As of: February 7, 2024, 5:18 a.m
By: Fabian Hartmann
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Last week there were rumors that the Ukrainian army chief was being fired.
Now he is calling for a rethink of warfare.
Kiev – Ukrainian army chief Valeriy Zalushnyj has presented his vision of a new military strategy in the Ukraine war against Russia.
In his column he admits that Ukraine is at a disadvantage compared to the aggressors when it comes to weapons and personnel.
He calls for a rethink of warfare against the Russian war of aggression and recommends increasing the production and use of drones.
Change of strategy in the Ukraine war: Army chief emphasizes the advantage of drones
In its war tactics, recently reported on
CNN
, Ukraine should focus on improving unmanned and advanced technologies.
According to Salushnyj, drones could not only help increase the effectiveness of combat, but also promote a war with fewer contacts.
This could ultimately also reduce the number of victims.
“Remote control of these assets means that fewer soldiers will be put in harm’s way, thereby reducing the number of human casualties,” the Ukrainian army chief wrote.
According to Zalushnyj, Ukrainian warfare at sea could also benefit enormously from drones, as they cover almost the entire operational area at sea “with high efficiency and minimal risk to personnel.”
In addition, drones make it possible to effectively eliminate not only surface and sea targets, but also entire coastal infrastructure.
Fewer arms deliveries in the Ukraine war: Kiev must adapt warfare
Regarding the use of drones in the Ukraine war, the commander-in-chief said: “They provide real-time information that allows fire to be adjusted around the clock and without interruption.” This means that Ukrainian troops are able to attack enemy targets in forward positions and attack in depth with high precision.
This also makes it easier to surprise the enemy's infrastructure.
According to the army chief, Ukraine may also have to adapt its military strategy to further cuts in aid from international allies.
It must be expected that they will reduce their support to Ukraine in the war against Russia.
In the USA, Joe Biden has been struggling for months to finance further military aid to Ukraine after the actual budget for this has already been used up - but the Republicans in the US Senate are blocking new aid packages.
“Our partners' stocks of missiles, interceptors for air defense and ammunition for artillery are running low, which is due to the intensity of hostilities in Ukraine, but also to a global shortage of propellant charges,” Zalushnyy wrote in his column.
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Kiev at a personnel disadvantage compared to Russia: Ukraine war poses a challenge for Zelensky
In addition to weapons and ammunition resources, the Ukrainian side is currently once again struggling with the number of personnel in its own army.
Saluzhnyj also emphasized in his column that Ukraine is not in a position to increase the number of available armed forces in the war against Russia.
At least as long as President Zelensky does not resort to “unpopular measures” to recruit more soldiers for the army.
The issue is considered very controversial in Ukraine.
In December, President Zelensky considered conscripting conscientious objectors who had fled abroad, but ultimately decided against it.
For the new year, electronic muster notices, prison sentences and fines should ensure more recruitment.
New demands in the Ukraine war at an inopportune time: Saluzhnyj in the conflict with President Zelenskyj
Zalushny's column comes amid rumors about his possible resignation.
On Monday night (January 29th), anonymous Telegram channels spread news that Saluschnyj would apparently be dismissed from his post as army chief in the near future.
The channels are believed to have ties to the presidential office and Ukrainian lawmakers, Ukrainian newspaper
Kyiv Post reports.
Valeriy Zalushny, commander of the Ukrainian army, holds out the prospect of a new strategy in the Ukrainian war.
This could result in significantly fewer losses.
(Archive image) © IMAGO/Ukrainian Presidential Press Off
Rumors of a rift between Ukrainian President Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief Zalushny have been circulating since the end of 2023. They were fueled when a column and an interview in the British newspaper
The Economist
were published on November 1st.
There, Saluzhnyj explained that both warring parties have now “reached a technical level” that “puts them in a stalemate.”
New weapons in the Ukraine war: Kiev relies on robots in the fight against Russia
As the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's
Defense Express
information platform reports, the country's army is currently increasingly using various ground robot platforms on the battlefield in the Ukrainian war.
Both small robots are used to mine areas, as well as larger systems such as THeMIS robot platforms.
These can be used to transport equipment and ammunition and are also suitable for evacuating wounded soldiers.
According to the report, it is also known that the Ukrainian soldiers use the combat robot “Ironclad” together with the remote-controlled weapon station “ShaBlya” from the Roboneers company.
“In general, these systems are interesting because we do not endanger our personnel so much,” said Colonel Volodymyr Silenko, commander of the 30th Prince Konstanty Ostrogski Brigade, in an interview with the
Army TV channel.
According to Silenko, the number of such systems in the force needs to be increased and improved.
In particular, he also points to the potential to increase the range of such weapons.
(Fabian Hartmann)