“Beyond Band-Aids: Ukraine’s Flawed Fix for a Farcical Force in the Face of Russian Aggression”

Ukraine’s Strategy to Address Soldier Shortages Through New Brigades is Unworkable, Says Senior Analyst

Ukraine’s decision to create new brigades rather than strengthening existing ones is unworkable, according to a senior analyst. The strategy, aimed at addressing soldier shortages, has led to a series of problems, including the division and dispersal of new troops to existing brigades that need replenishment.

Michael Coffman, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has criticized Ukraine’s decision, saying it is “one of the most puzzling force management choices it has ever made.” Coffman argues that the new brigades are not combat-effective due to a lack of experience, and that the strategy has resulted in a loss of cohesion and a continuous fragmentation of defense efforts.

The 155th Mechanized Brigade, trained by Western armies, including France, is one example of the problems that have arisen. Reports suggest that the brigade has a high desertion rate and has been broken up to divert resources to other brigades. This has led to a backlash among Ukrainians, who are questioning the entire new strategy.

Ukraine’s leadership had aimed to create 10 new brigades, each typically composed of thousands of troops, in an effort to provide new troops that could rotate into battle or fill gaps on the front lines. However, the strategy has been criticized for its lack of focus on addressing the country’s most pressing problem: the need for experienced troops.

The Russian offensive in the eastern Donbas region has put significant pressure on Ukraine’s outnumbered and exhausted defenses. Russia’s progress has been incremental, but it continues to advance, with reports of staggering losses. The Ukrainian military has also been criticized for its lack of Western military aid, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying that Kyiv has sought to equip its 14 brigades with Western weapons, but that the 2024 weapons package could not supply even four of them.

In response to these challenges, Ukraine has turned to domestic production to meet some of its needs, with Zelensky saying that 30% of the weapons used by Ukraine in 2024 will be locally made. The country has also been developing new drones at breakneck speed, often cobbled together from commercial parts. However, Coffman argues that while these technological innovations may be helpful, they are not enough to compensate for the country’s fundamental issues with manpower, training, and force management.

FAQ:

Q: Why has Ukraine created new brigades instead of strengthening existing ones?
A: Ukraine’s leadership has aimed to provide new troops that can rotate into battle or fill gaps on the front lines.

Q: What are the problems with Ukraine’s new brigades?
A: The brigades are not combat-effective due to a lack of experience, and the strategy has resulted in a loss of cohesion and a continuous fragmentation of defense efforts.

Q: What is the situation on the front lines?
A: Russia’s progress has been incremental, but it continues to advance, with reports of staggering losses. Ukraine’s outnumbered and exhausted defenses are under significant pressure.

Q: What is Ukraine doing to address its military challenges?
A: Ukraine is turning to domestic production to meet some of its needs, and developing new drones at breakneck speed. However, Coffman argues that these technological innovations are not enough to compensate for the country’s fundamental issues with manpower, training, and force management.

Conclusion:

Ukraine’s strategy to address soldier shortages through new brigades is unworkable, according to a senior analyst. The strategy has led to a series of problems, including the division and dispersal of new troops to existing brigades that need replenishment. The Ukrainian military faces significant challenges, including a lack of Western military aid, a Russian offensive in the eastern Donbas region, and a need to address fundamental issues with manpower, training, and force management. While technological innovations may be helpful, they are not enough to compensate for the country’s fundamental issues.