In a eye-opening youtube talk Col-Gen Dmytro Marchenko made some un-expected statements about Ukraineʼs eastern defense situation. The general who is known for his 2022 success in southern operations didnt hold back when discussing current issues
Our front has crumbled
The town of Selydove (population round 20k) has become a new hot-spot after Russian forces moved in; this puts nearby Pokrovsk – a key supply-hub at risk. Marchenko pointed out that Russians might soon surround the area which would create big problems for Ukrainian logistics
Military problems include low ammo stocks recruitment issues and leadership decisions. Volodymyr Zelenskys support-focused plan got some critique from the general who thinks it doesnt address local needs enough. A British army trainer shared that Ukrainian forces had trouble switching to western-style combat methods even with new equipment
- Ammo shortages affect defense capability
- New recruiting rules dont fix personnel gaps
- Western tactics adoption remains slow
- North Korea might send 10k soldiers to help Russia
The situation looks tough – Russian forces made good progress on a 40-mile section of the front as per Finnish expert Emil Kastehelmi. Meanwhile Moscow gets help from both North Korea and Iran while Ukraine waits for promised western support. The US-based Institute for the Study of War notes that Russians achieved important gains in recent weeks