BREAKTHROUGH NEAR OCHERETYNE. PROBLEMS ON FRONT LINE
Stream about the situation at the frontline.
There were no streams for a long time. I want to apologize: I was not on the air for certain reasons. I was on a visit to France at the invitation of the Ministry of Armed Forces. I took part in a significant number of events aimed at raising awareness of the French leadership about the situation in Ukraine, the course of the fighting and the cohesion of French society, in order to prepare France to increase military training for Ukraine and the possible involvement of the French armed forces in the war in Europe.
I was in one of the military camps where I was the first Ukrainian journalist to be entrusted with filming the training of a large group of Ukrainian infantrymen. In the near future, we will show a story about these events on the channel. I talked to a large number of French soldiers. It was nice that among them were Butusov+ subscribers who showed me our app on their phones. It is a great honor for us.
France is now gradually becoming the political locomotive of the organization of military assistance in the European Union. It was important to see with my own eyes that this is not a show and not a decoration. But this is the topic of a separate broadcast. The main issue that worries us all now is the critical situation at the frontline and the fact that this crisis is getting worse. I will also say right away that I am wearing a T-shirt that was presented to me by my comrades, friends from the 13th Brigade of the National Guard "Charter". This is a newly formed brigade, and it is a very good example of how good management can make a combat-ready brigade that has been formed from scratch. This is a very high-quality and combat-ready Ukrainian unit.
CRISIS AT THE FRONT
As for the situation at the front. It is certainly very acute. The fact that there is a crisis at the front is evidenced by the statement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Where is the crisis developing? Unfortunately, it is a breakthrough in our defences near the village of Ocheretyne. Here we see the situation on the 796th day of the full-scale Russian invasion. We see the situation as it is developing. So, here, on the map prepared by our cartographer, dear Andrii Karbivnychyi, you can see the changes in the situation very well. The rapid changes that have taken place recently.
OCHERETYNE. MAPS OF COMBAT OPERATIONS.
Yellow colour and red dotted line. The village of Krasnohorivka is the red dotted line around it, the territory that was captured by the Russians on the 10th of October 2023. It was on this day that a full-scale massive assault by Russian troops in the entire Avdiivka area began, which led to the capture of Avdiivka on February 24. The enemy captured Avdiivka. But the enemy could not advance further. From February to April. Until April 11. Our troops fought fierce battles along the entire perimeter around Avdiivka. The direction of the main efforts, the main offensive of the enemy were the villages of Stepove and Berdychi. Especially the village of Berdychi. We had to withdraw from Stepove because the enemy controlled the dominant heights and controlled the Avdiivka coke plant. Of course, it is unprofitable to defend Stepove in such conditions, in this lowland. But our troops fought very skillfully for Berdychi. First of all, the 47th Mechanized Brigade fought, which simply showed impressive combat capability and combat effectiveness, also our newly formed unit. It should be noted that Brigadier Riumshyn, who came in only in January, really restored the brigade, made it highly combat-ready, built an effective defense, and developed a defense tactic that allowed the brigade to continue effective resistance and hold Berdychi even after the change of brigadier. All Russian attacks and assaults were repelled. Similarly, all the assaults were repelled, you can't see it here, but there is the village of Orlivka to the south - our troops, the 3rd Assault Brigade, the 68th Jaeger Brigade repelled all the attacks in the area of Orlivka. The enemy managed to capture most of the village, but they were unable to carry forward advance. Similarly, our paratroopers, the 25th Assault Brigade held strong and prevented the enemy from advancing after capturing Tonenke village south of Avdiivka.
So the situation was very difficult. It was very critical. But our troops held the line of defense, did not allow the enemy to break through, and - which is fundamentally important in modern warfare - our troops inflicted many times greater losses on the Russians who were attacking. They could not advance. They were shot like in a shooting range, in the area of Stepove-Berdychi, from Stepove to Berdychi, the so-called road of death, where the 47th Brigade simply killed hundreds of Russian occupiers. There are many videos about this on the Internet. They were holding the line of defense. But the situation just changed dramatically on April 11. On April 11, as we can see on the map, which was very well made by Andrii Karbivnychyi. On April 11, the enemy launched attacks in two directions at once: on the village of Novokalynove and on the village of Novobakhmutivka through the Zoria gardening company on Ocheretyne and on Novobakhmutivka. Why did the enemy start it? It was at that time that the rotation of our troops in the area began. One brigade was replaced by another and some attached units. I am not going to talk about all the factors that are known for sure. I want to say that the Russian offensive began as soon as they noticed the change of the brigade that had been in the area for a long time, which had established intelligence, command and control, and organization of the battle. Yes, it suffered significant losses in these battles. The enemy suffered even more. But. Our troops controlled the situation. It was hard. Very difficult. Critically difficult. But they did not allow any breakthroughs and beat the enemy. What happened on April 11? Another brigade came in. I'm not going to mention the number right now to avoid distractions. I want to talk about the situation on the frontline in general. And what happened to this brigade is the subject of a separate conversation.
So. They changed the team and what was happened? Unfortunately, in just 3 days the situation in the area became uncontrollable. Already on April 14, the enemy managed to capture a significant area. What did they do? We can see here that the Russians acted very simply and primitively. They went right along the railroad tracks. Was it unexpected? It was not unexpected at all. They have been doing this for a long time. They had been attacking in this direction for several months. There were still battles for Avdiivka, and they had already attacked Ocheretyne. The fighting in this direction has been going on... I can tell you for sure, for at least 5 months. At least. They are intense. The enemy is trying to advance to Ocheretyne. They are beaten, they are there again, again. They are killed, they keep advancing. But suddenly there was a crisis and the enemy broke through. On April 14, they had already knocked out the front line of our positions. On April 18, they actually completely took the area along the railroad. This is the Zoria gardening company. On April 25, the enemy captured Ocheretyne. A significant part of it. Not the whole village, I should note, but a significant part of Ocheretyne. The enemy also broke through to Novobakhmutivka and Soloviove. As we can see here by the arrows, these directional arrows are to the north of the area defended by our heroic 47th Mechanized Brigade. After the enemy actually penetrated the 47th Mechanized Brigade's flank, the brigade was forced to withdraw from the village of Berdychi. It simply became tactically unprofitable to hold these positions. This significantly worsened our defense in the area. And it created very favorable conditions for the enemy to advance. And they continue to advance along the railroad tracks.
The second point of the Russian offensive is Novokalynove. The enemy managed to enter Novokalynove, and the enemy managed to enter the next village of Keramik. All this happened simultaneously. I can't help but say that the brigade that was assigned to this area - I wouldn't want to say that the soldiers of this brigade are bad soldiers. The soldiers in this brigade are the same as in the entire Armed Forces: ordinary people, ordinary mobilized people, ordinary volunteers. But it so happened that I met this brigade at the beginning of the war. This brigade was not given time to prepare and organize.
WHY DID THEY BREAK THROUGH THE DEFENCE NEAR OCHERETYNE?
There was a critical situation and on March 22, a significant part of the brigades of the reserve corps - this is a military formation of our Ground Forces - this brigade was formed in March from scratch and without any time for training it was called a mechanized brigade and sent to the front. We had several such brigades in the reserve corps. They are considered to be reserve units. But in reality, they were just a regular volunteer mobilized unit. The brigades did not have time to receive proper combat training and organization. There was no time. One of these brigades ended up in Sieverodonetsk. All the commanders, all the military who were in the area, even I, as a journalist, in agreement with our military command in the area, appealed to the military leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I said that a brigade that has no combat capability, that is poorly organized - it is a team of good people, but they did not have time to prepare and organize themselves, there were problems with the command staff, there was no coherence. There was no individual or group training. This is not a problem for these soldiers. They heroically tried to fulfill orders in such conditions. But of course, they could not do what they were not ready for, because they were not properly managed. I warned, not only me but other military commanders, including in their reports, that this brigade could not hold the large front that was cut. Unfortunately, no miracle happened. The enemy went on the offensive and the brigade was unable to hold its positions not because of the people - the people tried to heroically stop the development of the situation. But war is about technology. If there is no effective management organization, no interaction that is practiced at the training ground, there will be no miracle. No heroism can replace organization and order. We all know this.
And so it happened. Unfortunately, Sievierodonetsk was lost. The brigade was withdrawn to Lysychansk. It was also unable to perform many of the tasks that were assigned to it there. It was allegedly withdrawn for rehabilitation. They changed the command several times. But I don't know what the Ground Forces command was thinking about, how they assessed the combat training - unfortunately, they failed to improve combat capability. In this state, the brigade, which had many heroic people who fought heroically for these positions, suffered significant losses because people held Ukrainian land, each of their positions to the end. A significant number of people. But they didn't have time, they couldn't do what they objectively didn't have the opportunity to do. They are not prepared for this. They are not organized for this. This is not a question for soldiers, not for junior commanders. It is to those leaders of the Armed Forces who gave the marks for combat training, who are responsible for combat training, who said that the brigade could perform the tasks that were assigned to it. And so, despite the experience of Sievierodonetsk, which, as we can see, no one is studying, no one is interested in it, we are back to the same old rake. Again, we see heroic people, self-organization, attempts to do what is possible, but as soon as the enemy saw weak organization, weak management, as soon as the enemy saw (this is also one of the mistakes of the command) problems in committing to action, the brigade was not given time to enter the position properly. The brigade was not given time to properly deploy and prepare. It came in at the last moment. And, unfortunately, after heroic battles, it had to sacrifice a large number of positions. As a result, the enemy broke through the front. And the enemy used a very standard frontal tactic and captured several settlements. Why do they need settlements? Because the Russian infantry needs to hide somewhere from our artillery and drones. That's why they don't go where it's profitable - in empty places. They go where there are basements. They are looking for shelter, otherwise they will all be killed. It's so obvious, everyone in the area at the front knows it. Nevertheless, it happened. I mean, were there any fortifications dug there? There were trenches, strongholds were really dug. There were trenches and foxholes. But they were not reinforced, not covered with the proper wood overhead logs. There were no concrete shelters. There were no places to hide people from artillery or drones along the same railroad. And to sit in open entrenchments - sorry, this is not a fortification, this is a profanation in modern warfare. Now drones, artillery, and mortars are being attacked from above in such a way that any position can be destroyed in the shortest possible time. This is no way to hold positions. Once again, we are coming to the point where even field fortifications have not been prepared in the direction of the enemy's main efforts, which would hold the main means of destruction of the enemy and could protect the infantry. And what happened?
There are no more people. Many heroic infantrymen were killed, and the enemy suffered heavy losses - again, they are losing more from our artillery fire, our drones rather than we are. But they are advancing. And before, they could not do it. And this is not a problem of soldiers, dear friends, now, in the third year of the war. Not junior commanders. These are the problems of the senior military leadership, which does not draw conclusions, does not want to draw conclusions, and just like the previous Commander-in-Chief, we had mistakes. I do not want to say that everything was perfect there. No, it wasn't. The same mistakes were made. And Sievierodonetsk was under the previous Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. But the same rake is here. No conclusions are being drawn. Why? Why, for example, was the commander of the 93rd Brigade, Colonel Shevchuk, dismissed during the defense of Bakhmut? Why was he removed? This was a mistaken decision that worsened the controllability of the troops and the management in that area in '22.
WHY DO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE EFFECTIVE COMMAND?
Why repeat this in the 24th when they also appointed an absolutely adequate brigadier, Riumshyn, from the 47th Brigade and dismissed him. I don't want to say that they put a completely bad person in charge. No. He is also a motivated person. But what do we have? Are there not enough problematic brigades where we need to change the command? Why change the command of an efficiently working brigade? What is the logic? Why doesn't anyone learn? These are simple questions. I want to tell you that I am now asking the questions that are being discussed in the army. It's not that I have some kind of exclusive. These are things that are obvious to many people at the front. And when this rake is repeated, unfortunately, it is critical.
I want to say that the enemy is not advancing quickly. Our troops are inflicting very heavy losses on the Russians. And what is happening on the frontline now is that, so you understand, Russian propaganda usually talks about great victories, they are happy that they managed to capture several completely destroyed villages. This is true. They did capture them. But at a price. In other words, Russian assault units are in fact, disposable people. Drones and artillery take them out. And we are waiting for our allies to send us the ammunition that our American and European allies are telling us about, so we can eliminate the enemy many times more. Now our drones are working effectively. Very effectively. This gives us a significant advantage in some battles. But without artillery, without mortars, it is certainly difficult to stop the enemy. We understand that. That's why there was such a breakthrough.
It is not a disaster for the front. That is, the enemy is advancing in these places with infantry. There are no armored columns there. There are just people with assault rifles and machine guns. Our troops are hitting them from all sides with all kinds of weapons. The enemy is trying to identify our positions, to attack us with artillery and aircraft. But we can see the enemy well, and Russia pays for every step with a large number of corpses. We are knocking out their operational and tactical reserves. Everything that the enemy creates, they throw into the offensive, their losses are significant.
POKROVSK
But as a result of this fall in the frontline in the area of Ocheretyne and Novokalynove, unfortunately, the enemy managed to significantly improve its tactical position. And this is a serious threat to the front in the Pokrovsk area. This is the Pokrovsk direction. The fortress of Pokrovsk is in front of us. I want to say, if immediately in the area... I know fortification work has begun. But if the fortifications are not made based on the experience of Ocheretyne, in other words, if the fortifications are not made with a horizontal overhead protection, i.e., a ceiling, a roof, so that there is a horizontal shelter that covers the upper projection. If there are no trenches completely covered with wood, if there are no concrete shelters, such positions in modern warfare, even with a camouflage net on top, will not last long and will not cover infantry. The battles show that the basis of modern warfare tactics is to maximize the life and combat capability of your infantry and to destroy the combat capability, physical destruction of the enemy's infantry. Not the territory. But they must be destroyed where they are, stopped where the conditions for destruction are most favorable. And the conditions for saving our lives are also the most favorable. This must be done. To do this, we need to improve the fortification works. To do this, we need to assess their quality. This should be done by the military who have to fight in these positions. I don't know what kind of reporting is there. Unfortunately, due to the lack of reliable fortifications, the infantry simply does not have time to gain a foothold there. Because the enemy also flies drones and strikes. That is why the crisis in the Ocheretyne area is primarily an operational crisis. First of all, I hope that Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi will look at how the commander of the OSGT Khortytsia, General Sodel, organizes combat operations. Has General Sodel drawn any conclusions from his previous management of the operational and tactical groups he had? Whether his methods of managing the OSGT are appropriate for modern warfare. Is there a plan to properly use brigades, especially poorly organized brigades, adequately to the situation and time of putting them into battle? Is it planned? Do the conditions for entering the battle correspond to the real situation, or is it just someone drawing steps on a map and then shouting 50 times: why didn't you come out at that time? I would like Oleksandr Syrskyi to analyze the situation in Ocheretyne, but this analysis should not only concern the commanders of the special operations units, but should start first of all with the OSGT, which issued orders to enter the area in time, in sectors, and determined these sectors, the time of withdrawal and consolidation.
This is what needs to be checked. This is where we should start. Because responsibility should begin with generals, not with soldiers, as is still the case in Ukraine. Therefore, I hope that Oleksandr Syrskyi will draw conclusions from the use of that brigade, how it was deployed to Ocheretyne, how another brigade was deployed instead of this one, which suffered losses and was withdrawn. How is this railroad track near Ocheretyne being held and who is holding it. Then we can draw conclusions so that this does not happen again. The frontline was not penetrated by tank columns. It simply fell due to certain management problems and crowds of enemy infantry with huge losses, these lemmings started advancing, unfortunately, they could not be stopped. Although everyone knew where.
So, friends. The situation is quite unpleasant, but it requires solutions.
Let's take another look at the situation near Ocheretyne.
RATE OF ADVANCE OF RUSSIAN TROOPS
I want to say that the rate of advance of this Russian infantry is very slow. We see that they are advancing in very narrow salients. If we had operational and tactical reserves in the area, all these salients could be cut off. The enemy could have been defeated, the situation could have been restored, because this is a particularly unfavorable configuration for us. With heavy fighting, the 47th Brigade heroically held Berdychi. The tactical conditions there are favorable for us. Now we were forced to retreat because of this failed flank. Unfortunately, we see that we do not have enough strength to restore the situation. That's why our allies have to watch this situation and realize that there will be no miracle. Instead of shells, we cannot fight with people. Because we do not have the number of commanders, the number of sergeants, officers, and soldiers to constantly restore these brigades that are reaching zero.
So, friends, despite the Russian propaganda, we can see that the enemy's advance is very, very slow. They get over every kilometer in a week. Because every planting is with a fight. None of our brigades is withdrawing without a fight. Where there is worse management, worse combat capability, weaker - unfortunately, there are withdrawals, people are being spent there. But there is absolutely no reason to say that everything is lost here. We can see from the pace of advancement that every step is very difficult for the enemy. At a very heavy price.
Let's look at the situation at the frontline.
We explained it here. Here are our troops in the area... Let's go back again.
The enemy has deployed large forces here. But our reserves have already deployed, and there will be no collapse of the front. It's just that if they continue to advance in such conditions, if no conclusions are drawn, the enemy will advance. Pokrovsk is close. Selydove is close. We need to think about this and remember.
KRASNOHORIVKA. MAP OF THE FIGHTING. HEAVY FIGHTING.
This is Krasnohorivka. The town of Krasnohorivka. Just so you don't get confused, there is a village called Krasnohorivka to the north of Avdiivka, next to Avdiivka to the north. And this is the town of Krasnohorivka. It's a large settlement, south of Avdiivka, much further south. It's near Donetsk-Mariinka. There are also very heavy battles for this town of Krasnohorivka. This is where the Russians are using their Tsar tanks with Tsar EW, these armored sheds, tin sheds - tanks that they plate with tin sheets, equip with EW, and try to bring in infantry under the cover of such systems. The enemy is advancing, launching massive attacks. The fighting is going on right in the town of Krasnohorivka. Very heavy fighting. The situation there is very difficult. Soldiers of the 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade and attached units are fighting there. The situation is very difficult, and I have announced a fundraising drive for drones. We have already raised a considerable amount of money with you - a relatively significant amount. We will use the money to buy 5 Mavic-3T drones with thermal imagers, something our soldiers need above all to be able to conduct effective reconnaissance and make drops at night. This is a request from the 59th Brigade. I am also asking everyone if anyone has the opportunity to help the 59th Infantry Brigade with drones, believe me, it is all being deployed in the battle for Krasnohorivka. The enemy is conducting attacks there and throwing all its forces forward. Also with heavy losses, but they are advancing. Every step is very difficult for the enemy. We also suffer losses. To save people's lives, let's raise money for equipment.
This is also a very difficult area of attack. We understand that the enemy wants to capture the city. The fighting is going on right in the city. And the capture of Krasnohorivka is, of course, a very important goal for the Russians. They are advancing from settlement to settlement, I emphasize, that is because they need shelters.
Next map.
CHASIV YAR. A MAP OF THE FIGHTING.
Chasiv Yar. The situation here, dear friends, is also very difficult. The enemy is heading straight for Chasiv Yar through Ivanivske, trying to capture the town with all their resources. Very heavy fighting is going on. There are battles in the city itself. There are battles on the outskirts. Of course, we understand that after Chasiv Yar, the enemy will have access to Kostiantynivka and the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration. Under no circumstances should he be allowed to get there. Our soldiers are doing everything possible to stop the enemy. The Russians are using a lot of weapons here, a lot of them. They also use massive infantry attacks, massive air and artillery strikes. Chasiv Yar is another town, the second town, where fierce fighting is going on right now, which is very important for the enemy.
The next one.
We've already been to this area, we've shown it. Berdychi, Semenivka, Orlivka. The fighting is still going on here. The main direction of the enemy's efforts is to the north.
Lyman-Kreminna.
TERNY. A MAP OF THE FIGHTING.
In this area, the enemy is also trying to capture the village of Terny. There have been very fierce battles for Terny and now there are massive attacks by Russian troops to capture Terny. This is a very important target for the enemy. We understand, and we're looking at the map now, that the capture of Terny and Yampolivka means that the enemy will be able to reach the Oskil military line. This is a very favorable line for the deployment of Russian defense and further offensive. In fact, it is a natural defense line. The fact that our troops made a forced crossing of Oskil and took this line with heavy fighting in 1922 is a very significant achievement, a remarkable victory. The enemy, of course, wants to regain control of the Oskil line. This is a very favorable line in this area, which actually controls the eastern part of the Kharkiv region. And of course, it will allow them to seize the exit to Terny, Yampolivka, and allow the enemy to come up and fight for Kupiansk and reach Torske, to the north. We do not see him here. And in this way, they will create a very close threat to the Lyman and force Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the Serebrianskyi forest. So there are very heavy battles going on here, the enemy is throwing huge infantry forces. He also suffers huge losses. But these battles are also very difficult for our soldiers. It is very difficult for our soldiers. Here, too, the enemy has a significant advantage in ammunition, aircraft and artillery.
Next.
ROBOTYNE. MAP OF THE FIGHTING.
Robotyne district. 786 days of full-scale war. In fact, we can see that the enemy has practically pick off a significant part of the Robotyn salient, for which Ukraine fought such hard battles in the summer of '23. Frankly speaking, the situation here is already extremely unfavorable for us, and tactically it is completely unfavorable. But our soldiers are holding this area and these positions simply by heroism and character. This is just high patriotism, skill, dedication, sacrifice. The situation here is very difficult. The fighting is still going on here. But in principle, the main Russian reserves are now moving to the north. We hope that this will allow us to somehow stabilize the front line here and not to hold those defense areas that are actually unprofitable for us to hold in such conditions, in such a situation. Again, this is a question of command decisions. And whether the situation here meets the main goal of the war, which I mentioned: to save the lives of our infantry in the most favorable positions that allow us to destroy the enemy's infantry as much as possible. In my opinion, there are big questions here. But I hope that our command will still respond to these changes in the situation and the situation in the area of Robotyne will be optimized as much as possible, and optimal decisions will be made to strengthen the defense and save infantry lives.
We have finished reviewing the situation at the front. It is worth saying that the situation is very difficult. Why does the enemy continue to do this? There is no mobilization and no systematic replenishment of personnel at the front in Ukraine. Those people who were mobilized and those who came on their own in '22 and '23 cannot fight endlessly on their own. People are getting physically exhausted. They need replenishment. But the replenishment is not zero, just found somewhere, kept in a training center for a month and then brought to the war. In modern warfare, we need only well-trained units, well-trained people individually. In other words, several months of intensive, high-quality training. And now there is a very acute question that the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy must take responsibility and finally organize mobilization, supplying people to training centers who would be motivated enough to serve in the army. They do not need to be grabbed somewhere off the street for this. This requires electronic accounting. Deputies have already voted for this. Everyone should have it right in their smartphone application. And there will be a clear calculation of who, what categories, what professions, what specialties, what positions the army needs. If this is not done quickly, unfortunately, we will have even more crises like the one in the Ocheretyne area. There is no doubt that the enemy is well aware of the situation. They write about it, post interrogations of our prisoners, know some information from radio intercepts, from intelligence. That is, they know the situation, that we simply do not have enough people physically. Where there should be a platoon, there is a squad, where there is a squad, there are three people. Unfortunately, this is the situation everywhere. Who is responsible in the state? The law defines it: The Supreme Commander-in-Chief. There is no other official. Only he is responsible. Both according to the Constitution and the law. Even generals. He has to organize the mobilization. The law was adopted - and where are the results of the organization of work? Where is the electronic accounting at least? We need to organize the mailing of draft notices to those who are in place. So that all people can be found. For the state to see which categories of people are needed? Do we need certain categories of people who are currently reserved or not? Do we need this many people to go to the front? We need to draw conclusions. The process is not organized. We see that Russia is sending to the front everyone it can: prisoners, the unemployed, those who are physically and mentally fit to serve at least minimally. They take everyone and replenish the troops. The infantry are recruited first. To save the lives of those combat-ready soldiers who make the Russian army combat-ready. Everyone is recruited, trained and sent to the front. This is not possible here. We actually have voluntary recruitment now. Even those who are grabbed off the street and on the bus are few in number, unfortunately, and not enough to replenish the army, even the smallest part. Even these people go to the front only because they have a conscience, a duty. In fact, in our system, where there is no coercion, no mechanism of responsibility, there is nothing to force a person to go if he or she absolutely does not want to. There are no factors. There are no tools. We still do not have military justice, I would like to remind you. All NATO countries have military police, military courts, military prosecutors, military investigators. All NATO countries have them. And Ukraine, a country that says more than any other in Europe that we are striving to join NATO, does not have them. It does nothing. The law on the military police has been stuck in the Verkhovna Rada since February 18, 2022. It's been there for over 2 years. People's deputies are in no hurry. They are doing well in the hall. They do not need order at the front and in the army - absolutely not. They are not interested. The Presidential Office is not interested as well. So, unfortunately, we have a big problem with the mobilization and training of people. These are inseparable concepts. We don't need people whom the army is looking for to send to the assault forces. There is no point in sending just anyone to be an attack aircraft. In modern warfare, unprepared people are targets. Only trained and organized people are needed. They have to be drafted and undergo a long cycle of intensive training to be physically, psychologically, and professionally ready. Then it will work. Unfortunately, we still do not have such systemic solutions.
Recently, there was a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council to discuss how to carry out mobilization because the law was adopted, but there are not enough tools. Who will do it? The Ministry of Internal Affairs says that the police will not be involved in mobilization because we do not want to spoil our image. Although the police have to do it by law. If you don't like it, if you don't want the police to do it, adopt another law. Give the police, for example, the rights of the TCR employees. If not, then let the police do it. Unfortunately, this irresponsible situation continues. And who pays for it? Unfortunately, the troops at the front are paying for it, as they are stretched into a thin, thin yellow and blue line that holds the front, as we can see on the maps. Every day that such minimal forces hold the frontline, every day every person who goes to zero line is a hero. Even if it did not fire that day. He/She was just hiding from the drones that were hunting him/her 100%, hiding from the artillery, strengthening and deepening its positions, and keeping in touch with its commanders. These people are heroes in modern warfare because they have to do everything themselves. And of course, only people trained at the front are needed. Unprepared people are not needed. Now the issue of not only mobilization but also training is very acute. In my opinion, it is very important that combat brigades are directly involved in mobilization and training. All brigades have a permanent base, a certain area. They must be assigned there, they must have direct contact and, together with the TCR, they must be authorized to carry out mobilization activities. Similarly, all combat brigades have the right to create training units, such as reserve units, which should organize high-quality control over the combat training of those people who are sent to them from training centers. There must be quality, and for this purpose, the brigade must be responsible for the lives of the people it is entrusted with.
YOU CANNOT FIGHT A WAR BY POLITICAL MEANS
Now, dear friends, if our government continues to hide from mobilization and training like ostriches and the president speaks only under public pressure about these issues and does not adopt practical decisions, if he actually does not supply people to the army, there will be crises. Our generals, after the dismissal of Zaluzhnyi, are now afraid to say anything about mobilization at all, because they will be dismissed, just as Valerii Fedorovych was. Therefore, we need to say that everything is fine, everything is stable, that we have stabilized. And then this stability that the President's Office demands in words – because the president is the first to talk about stability, and then it turns out that the frontline is collapsing here and there. And it's hard. There are not enough people. There are not enough management decisions. Because, unfortunately, you can't manage a war with political methods. The office has to do office work and give the military the full range of decisions. In fact. In fact, not in words.
Let's start answering questions now.
IS IT SHELL HUNGER?
The main problem at the front is the Russians' superiority in shells. What is the current ratio, and will it change in the near future?
I believe that the main problem at the front is not the Russians' superiority in shells, but rather our inability to use all our available resources and advantages. Our main problems are managerial and organizational. This is what all infantrymen say. People want to see better use of troops and improvements in the use of troops. This is the main problem. The Russian offensive cannot be stopped by shells alone. The offensive is stopped by infantry in the trenches. We definitely need shells, but this is not the number one factor. This is the factor number two. The first factor is the high-quality use of troops. Then, of course, the means of destruction. All this works in a complex. Will the ratio of shells be changed in the near future? Not in the near future. We can reduce the imbalance through supplies from the West, from America, first of all, from other countries. If now, according to Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Russians have a 5-6 times superiority in shells, I think that this can be reduced with the help of supplies from the West to 1:2, but with such an advantage we can wage war and beat the enemy.
Is it true that one of the main reasons for the loss of Ocheretyne was the local awaiters who leaked everything to the enemy? If so, what should be done about these traitors?
Unfortunately, this is not the case. The enemy's main means of obtaining information in the Ocheretyne area is information from reconnaissance drones. They have a good view of everything. Ocheretyne was right on the front line and the enemy sees everything better there, without any waiting around.
The Russians have almost finished construction of an airfield in the village of Alexeyevka, 70 kilometers from the Belgorod region. Does this mean that the air raid alerts will be more frequent and the Russians will have more chances to strike now?
Well, I think, friends, that we will not notice these air raid alerts, because the Russians attack with different means - with missiles and drones. This airfield is not the only place, not the only site from which the threat to Ukraine comes
Regarding the restriction of certain human rights clauses. What is it, what is happening?
I didn't quite understand "restriction of human rights clauses. I did not understand the question, I apologize. Please write somehow more clearly.
"RIGHTS OF EVADERS"
What do you think about the restriction of consular services for men abroad?
I believe that this is a completely chaotic and ill-conceived step by the authorities. I'm not trying to protect the rights of some evaders... It's just absurd. This is an absurd step. It is absolutely empty and ineffective. Every citizen of the country has the right to receive consular services. Because every citizen of Ukraine who has a birth certificate, has a Ukrainian passport, received the primary one at birth or after acquiring citizenship, is a citizen. It is impossible to deprive them of their citizenship. And it is also impossible to deprive a person of consular services related to obtaining citizenship. A person who has been deprived of consular services through his or her representatives will file a lawsuit, and the Supreme Court or even a lower court will recognize this violation of the constitutional rights of a citizen and renew his rights by direct decision. They will have to fulfill them and provide consular services. Apart from the irritation, apart from the lost time, this will not be any kind of coercive measure or restriction of the rights of evaders or coercion of evaders. This is just a show to do nothing but pretend that we are doing something. This is our government blowing off steam. What for? It's complete nonsense. What is important? What needs to be done? If we have certain decisions of the government and the government wants to enforce these decisions, then we can introduce restrictions, which is the main one, as I said on the broadcast about mobilization, we need an electronic record of all those liable for military service, all men from 18 to 60. We need to know exactly who is fit for what. Find out where they are. Whether they have traveled abroad legally. Where they are now. With the help of all electronic services and databases, this can be done. If people are abroad, this can also be established. And then the state determines the need, how many people are needed, what specialty, what restrictions are imposed on which categories, who has the priority - the need is determined and these specific people are notified electronically, not by these paper summonses that no one takes like garbage. The call is duplicated through the media. All persons liable for military service are defined as warned and then there are legal consequences. So, if you received an order, no matter where you are, to report to the military enlistment office or to receive a draft notice, or to report to the military enlistment office to update your data, and you did not do so, then no matter where you are, even in Antarctica, you will apply for consular services, and you will be told: I'm sorry, but you are not fulfilling the rights and obligations of a citizen of Ukraine. We limit the provision of consular services to you because you are an offender. It is the offenders defined by law who should be restricted from any state services. Yes. They have violated the law and they must be held accountable. And this is one of the means of bringing them to justice. And now there is no regulation. Now people are being punished for being abroad. Like, if you want to get consular services, come back to Ukraine. This is absurd. Even if a person returns to Ukraine to get a passport or something else, it does not mean that they will necessarily go to the military enlistment office. It doesn't mean that the person will receive a draft notice. Why do you create such problems for a person? You don't know whether he is even liable for military service, whether you need him in the army or not. Or whether you have the right to draft him. Why is this being done? It's just nonsense. To be honest, I'm just surprised by this decision. I couldn't even believe it at first. I thought it was some kind of Russian propaganda. When I am told that this is how it happens, I wonder where the brains of the people who do this are. What for? What for? What is the purpose? Why are state leaders not responsible for the result? For mobilization? Why is this kind of PR being done, creating empty PR that does not lead to any results? The government should be responsible for the result, not for creating more PR scandals.
VUHLEDAR. THREAT OF ENCIRCLING
What are the prospects of losing Vuhledar from the north due to the Avdiivka failure?
At the moment, of course, the enemy is trying to capture Vuhledar. The main threat to Vuhledar is not coming from Avdiivka, but a breakthrough after the loss of Marinka. The enemy is trying to break through to Novomykhailivka with all its efforts. Our soldiers are there, the 79th Air Assault Brigade, 31st Mechanized Brigade, 116th TDF Brigade, other subunits and units. There are many of them there. We will not list them all. But our soldiers are doing everything possible and impossible to stop the Russian breakthrough. From there, from Novomykhailivka, the enemy is trying to break through the Kurakhove area and threaten to surround Vuhledar. Yes, such a threat exists. But so far, the main efforts, the main replenishment, resources, and breakthroughs of the enemy are related to the situation north of Avdiivka. That is Krasnohorivka, Chasiv Yar. North of Marinka, Krasnohorivka, north of Avdiivka, Ocheretyne and Chasiv Yar. And Terny. These are the four toughest and hottest spots on the frontline where the enemy is throwing all its reserves. And our soldiers are holding Novomykhailivka heroically with very heavy fighting, but they are holding it. They are beating the enemy there. There are heavy battles there. But so far, thanks to the fact that Novomykhailivka is being held, Vuhledar is being held, and there is no further development of the situation there that is dangerous at the moment.
Is it realistic to get into fpv if you join voluntarily?
If you join the army voluntarily, you can get into almost any position in the army, and I advise you to do so if you are interested in it. I am constantly being asked by readers and viewers for advice on which brigade to join and which position to take. Of course, I advise many of them to use fpv, fpv drones are one of the most important technologies of modern warfare, the most effective and efficient. Indeed, it is absolutely feasible to do so. I recommend watching a recent video on my channel. He got to the war by advertisement. It is an interview with one of the soldiers, a young man who came on January 24, voluntarily signed a contract to join the attack drone unit, code 92 of the 92nd Assault Brigade. Our soldier, a wonderful young man, 23 years old, came voluntarily, got... wanted a position in the drone unit, and he was sent to the brigade for this position and training through the military enlistment office, through the TCR. He completed the training. He fights in his specialty, one of the crew members of a night bomber drones, he is very effective and responsible. His team recently destroyed a whole convoy of 10 Russian vehicles near the village of Andriivka. We are showing this video. We are showing this man who went to war and within a month participated in such an outstanding feat.
IS THE EUROPEAN ARMY IN THE WAR FOR UKRAINE?
Will the French strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces?
Friends, in fact, France is a global topic, and I will do a separate broadcast about it. At this point, I want to say no. At the moment, the participation of the French Armed Forces in the defense of Ukraine is, unfortunately, impossible. But the French leadership is no longer ruling out this possibility, this scenario of European armies participating in the defense of Ukraine, and is gradually beginning to prepare public opinion in their countries, including France. I don't think this is a quick process. But it has begun, and it is important because France is the only country in Europe, the only country in the European Union, that has nuclear weapons and can, of course, respond to Russian threats with force. To respond with an understanding of its strength and the fact that nuclear blackmail will not work here. That is why France is very important for us. My trip to France will soon be the subject of a separate broadcast, and there will be a video about my visit to maneuvers and combat training of Ukrainian infantry in a French training center.
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It is very important, I want to say, that drones and sponsorship, the help of financing drones from the people of Ukraine is one of the key factors why we are holding the front and can save the lives of our soldiers. Unfortunately, the promise of a million drones is not being fulfilled. Unfortunately, the plans to supply drones are far from a million. It is unclear when they will be supplied to the troops. The state supplies drones to the troops in thousands, not tens or hundreds of thousands, as promised by the authorities. That is why, dear friends, our donations today will save the frontline. Drones, drones and drones, as long as they are carrying shells, as long as they are carrying weapons, as long as we have no mobilization, we must do our best to defend Ukraine. And the first thing each of us can do is to donate money for drones. Therefore, I urge everyone to join all the initiatives of trusted volunteer organizations that you know, trust, and soldiers that you know and personally trust to help with drone donations.
Today, more than ever, I am confident that Ukraine is capable of achieving victory. Thank you for being with us and glory to Ukraine!
