This interview with journalist Yuriy Butusov discusses his reasons for mobilizing into the Ukrainian army, his observations on the war's progress, and his perspectives on the challenges faced by the Ukrainian military. The interview covers topics such as the shortage of infantry, the effectiveness of the war strategy, the impact of personnel rotations, and the importance of effective command structures.
Butusov's Mobilization: Butusov joined the 13th Brigade of the National Guard, motivated by a belief that change is needed within the military structure and a desire to contribute directly. He emphasizes the critical shortage of infantry in the Ukrainian army and the need for systemic changes.
The Critical Shortage of Infantry: The Ukrainian army faces a significant shortage of infantry, which Butusov describes as the most acute need across all military units. This shortage is partly due to heavy losses and high rates of soldiers leaving military units due to exhaustion and psychological trauma.
The Israeli-Hamas War's Lessons: Butusov analyzes the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, highlighting Israel's lightning-fast destruction of Hamas's military leadership. He argues that this demonstrates the importance of superior intelligence and effective command structures in modern warfare. He contrasts this with Ukraine's current approach which relies heavily on resources.
Strategic and Tactical Challenges: Butusov expresses concerns regarding the Ukrainian military's tactics and organization, particularly the distribution of resources. He suggests that the focus should be maximizing enemy losses while minimizing Ukrainian casualties, a point not fully addressed in current strategy. He also criticizes the inefficient fortification process and suggests a more integrated approach.
Problems with the Territorial Conscription and Mobilization Centers (TCK): Butusov highlights significant issues within the TCK system, criticizing the current approach to mobilization as inefficient, opaque, and prone to corruption. He advocates for a more transparent system with direct reporting to front-line commanders about personnel needs.
According to Butusov, the major flaws in Ukraine's current approach to fortification efforts include: the decentralized and uncoordinated nature of the process, with various entities (military-civilian administrations, rather than engineering troops) constructing fortifications, resulting in structures unsuitable for modern warfare (being easily targeted by drones), and a lack of integration with overall military strategy and planning for defensive operations. Soldiers often end up having to dig their own trenches in more defensible locations, rather than using the pre-constructed fortifications.
