Ukraine's defence ministry has dismissed a senior commander after disturbing images surfaced of severely malnourished soldiers who had been deployed on the frontline for months without adequate food and water. The scandal came to light when Anastasiia Silchuk, the wife of one of the soldiers, posted the photos on social media, showing four men who appeared pale and emaciated, with prominent ribcages and thin arms.
Soldiers' Ordeal on the Frontline
According to relatives, the soldiers had spent eight months defending a shrinking pocket of territory on the left bank of the Oskil River, near the north-eastern city of Kupiansk. Supplies of food and medicine could only be delivered by drone due to the proximity to enemy lines. Silchuk posted that when the men arrived at the front, they weighed over 80 to 90 kilograms, but now they weigh around 50 kilograms. After one delivery, no food arrived for ten days, forcing the soldiers to drink rainwater and melt snow to survive.
Silchuk stated, "The longest they went without food was 17 days. They weren't listened to on the radio, or perhaps no one wanted to listen to them. My husband shouted and begged, saying there was no food and water." She emphasized that the problem extended beyond just this one case.
Another relative, Ivanna Poberezhnyuk, said the soldiers from the 14th Separate Mechanised Brigade were left in an extremely difficult situation, with fighters losing consciousness from hunger. Her father was evacuated, but others remained stuck.
Military Response and Investigation
Ukraine's general staff confirmed the replacement of the commander responsible for feeding the soldiers. The brigade acknowledged logistical challenges, noting that deliveries were only possible by air due to the location being extremely close to enemy lines. A spokesperson explained that drones are used for all deliveries, but Russian forces intercept and shoot down as many as possible, often targeting logistics over equipment.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022, the grey zone between the two sides has expanded dramatically. Both sides extensively use drones for surveillance and targeting. Soldiers often have to walk 10 to 15 kilometres to reach forward positions. Recently, Ukraine has increased the use of unmanned ground robots to supply exposed areas and evacuate wounded soldiers. In the Kupiansk sector, Russia has destroyed bridges across the Oskil River to cut off Ukrainian forces on the left bank.
Improvement and Calls for Rotation
Silchuk reported on Friday that conditions have improved since the issue was publicised. A new commander has contacted them and assured that the situation is being resolved. Her husband has eaten more in the past eight months. However, she added that the soldiers are eating little by little as their stomachs have shrunk, and they remain uncertain about future food supplies. She stressed the need for rotation and medical treatment.
Ukraine's military command has launched an investigation and stated that another food shipment was recently delivered to the 14th Infantry Brigade's position. If conditions allow, an immediate evacuation of the soldiers will be carried out.
