The Russian occupation forces lack about 40% of junior commanders on the front lines.
Andriy Chernyak, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, told RBC-Ukraine.
According to him, the shortage is observed in enemy units operating in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
– “Russia will continue its offensive because it has not achieved its main goal – the complete occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. And it is in the units that are there that we observe that the occupiers have serious problems with commanders at the platoon or company level.
Chernyak added that the occupiers on the first line do not want to fight, to go on the offensive, and many want to injure themselves in order to return to the territory of Russia and not fight anymore. He added that most do not plan to extend the contract, but “no one asks them.”
The intelligence representative clarified that because of this, mobilized Russians are often sent to assault operations without command and proper interaction between groups.
They may have some minor tactical successes, but die in hundreds, and new “cannon fodder” is sent to replace them. According to him, there are also problems with leadership in the Russian army at the highest levels.
Chernyak emphasized that this is evident in the frequent change of generals and commanders of various levels. The intelligence community predicts that the personnel problems with the Russian command structure will increase every day.
Recently, the British tabloid The Sun, citing U.S. intelligence data, published new data on Russia’s losses in Ukraine. It is noted that the losses of the occupation forces reached 188 thousand people.
It is also noted that the Russian occupiers lost 2,000 tanks – the equipment was destroyed or captured by the Ukrainian army.