The shortage of personnel is currently the biggest challenge facing Ukraine. Military analyst Michael Kofman believes that Kyiv's strategy to overcome this issue by forming new brigades instead of reinforcing existing ones is proving ineffective.
As reported by Business Insider, the senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Russia and Eurasia Program stated that Kyiv's approach to tackling this problem is "one of the most convoluted force management options" he has ever encountered.
Kofman pointed out that expanding forces with new brigades, when experienced troops are needed to replenish losses at the front, comes with compromises.
However, due to a lack of sufficient experience, the new units have been "overall ineffective in combat":
"As seen in 2023, new formations struggle to perform both offensive and defensive functions. They require significant time to gain experience, cohesion, confidence, etc.".
The analyst noted that Ukraine's strategy has partially failed. Battalions from the new brigades have primarily been deployed to cover losses in already engaged units.
The most glaring case demonstrating the issues in managing Ukrainian forces, as Kofman writes, was the situation surrounding the 155th brigade. The distribution of new units led to "constant fragmentation of defensive efforts and loss of cohesion."
However, Ukraine is facing not only a shortage of personnel but also a lack of equipment. Against this backdrop, units are developing new drones at a rapid pace, often assembling them from commercial parts. The analyst states that these UAVs have become "force multipliers," allowing Ukrainian defenders to safely lay mines and pursue the occupying Russian troops even before reaching the front lines.
"However, technological innovations, tactical adaptation, and better integration are insufficient to compensate for the inability to address fundamental issues. While Russia's achievements may seem unimpressive, Ukraine must resolve its challenges regarding human resources, training, and troop management to continue this fight," Kofman concluded.
War in Ukraine: What You Need to Know
Russian occupying forces have committed yet another war crime on Ukrainian soil. The DeepState project reported on the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war near Neskuchne in the Donetsk region. It was noted that the Russians executed three soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Defense Forces have launched a new offensive in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have broken through in three areas and achieved tactical successes.