Report of Battalion commander Shyrshyn on incompetent decisions by Ukrainian command requires immediate response from Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff and military commanders
The statement by Oleksandr Shyrshyn, commander of the 1st Battalion of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, regarding his intention to resign in protest against incompetent decisions by the Ukrainian command in the Kurakhove direction, is a significant event for both the military and society.
Words of Battalion commander Shyrshyn cannot be ignored — this is an unprecedentedly sharp criticism and appeal that requires an official response from the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the Ground Forces, and the commander of the "Kursk" operational group.
The 47th Brigade is currently carrying out missions in the Kurakhove direction, and the issues raised by Battalion Commander Shyrshyn in his Facebook post are also being voiced by other Ukrainian commanders operating in the area. Quote:
"I’ve never received more idiotic tasks than the ones on this current front. One day I’ll share the details, but this brainless waste of people and fear of incompetent top brass leads to nothing but failure. All they’re capable of is reprimands, investigations, and disciplinary actions. To hell with them all. These ‘political games’ and their assessment of the actual situation have nothing to do with reality or our capabilities. They’ve lost the plot."
"The corresponding resignation report has been submitted. I hope I’ll be relieved soon, and I’ll then be ready to share some details with my journalist friends.
Thank you, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! I sincerely hope your children will also serve in the infantry and carry out your orders."
What’s this about?
What we’re seeing right now is clearly visible in drone footage released by the enemy near the village of Tetkino. Attempts to launch frontal assaults with vehicle columns under constant observation and fire from Russian drones are leading to significant losses in manpower and equipment. The objectives being assigned do not always correspond to the actual capabilities of the troops, the terrain, or even basic tactical strategy. The military command’s underestimation of the drone threat has led to failures in engineering support, protection of equipment and personnel, and gross mistakes in planning and force deployment. The political objective set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff — to conduct combat operations on enemy territory — has been poorly organized and planned at the operational and tactical levels. No one is drawing lessons or trying to adapt. On the contrary, the same mistakes are being repeated over and over, with no regard for the losses.
So who is this battalion commander who spoke against?
Oleksandr Shyrshyn is an intelligent and educated officer. A spontaneous wartime photo of him reading a book by philosopher Timothy Snyder in a trench in 2022 went viral across the world.
Shyrshyn has been defending Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale invasion. He joined the 80th Air Assault Brigade and became a platoon commander. Later, he took command of a company in the 47th Mechanized Brigade. He proved himself a true leader during the offensive operation in the Zaporizhzhia direction in 2023. It was his company that, after months of frontal assaults against a heavily fortified and well-prepared enemy defense, became one of the first to break through to Robotyne — because the company commander was always with his troops, often personally taking part in assaults and fighting on the front line. Shyrshyn’s company can be seen in Oleh Sentsov’s film "Real."
For his combat merits, Shyrshyn was appointed deputy commander and later became the commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 47th Brigade. He excelled in the battles near Avdiivka and in the Kurakhove direction.
Shyrshyn has always personally overseen the evacuation of the wounded and the fallen, doing everything possible to minimize losses — and that’s why his soldiers deeply respected and still respect him. For him, saving lives and carrying out high-risk combat missions are not just words — they’re actions he’s taken more than once. So if he raised these issues sharply, it means he has the moral right to do so.
Shyrshyn is right — and, in fact, it is simply impossible to continue fighting this way.
To resolve the problem, he showed his readiness to renounce his senior position for the sake of honor. That is the act of a Soldier and a Citizen.
What should be done?
His words merit an official assessment.
Further actions in the Kurakhove direction must be planned only after a proper after-action review.
The honesty and intellect of this officer warrant not dismissal — but promotion.
Yurii Butusov, Censor. NET
