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Ukraine’s defence ministry has fired a top commander after photos emerged of a group of emaciated soldiers who have been left on the frontline for months without proper food and water.
The scandal erupted after the wife of one of the soldiers, Anastasiia Silchuk, posted the images on social media. The four men appeared to be pale and visibly malnourished, with prominent ribcages and thin arms. An emaciated soldier standing with his shirt off The fourth soldier. Photograph: i.petrovna_/Threads
The soldiers had spent eight months defending a shrinking bulge of territory on the left bank of the Oskil River, near the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, their relatives said. Supplies of food and medicines could only be flown in by drone.
“When the lads arrived at the frontlines, they weighed over 80–90kg. But now they weigh around 50kg,” Silchuk posted. After one delivery, she said, no more food turned up for 10 days. The soldiers were forced to drink rainwater and melt snow to survive.
The level of logistic collapse you need to get soldiers this emaciated is far beyond the failure of a single individual. This is absolutely evidence of the systemic collapse of the UA that every realist has been saying is inevitable for years.
Also, if anyone was paying attention, this is Kupiansk - does everyone remember the big propaganda push with Zelensky taking that selfie in front of the sign? Did it trail off to an embarrassed whisper like every single other of these propaganda pushes?
Is that the one where Russia posted photos, claiming they took over the city, and then Zelenski went there to clearly and undeniably demonstrate that it’s not under Russian control?
I appreciate the effort but make sure you don’t waste too much time on a .ml tankie.
Funny you should put it like that. Where is that sign in relation to the city center, especially the all-important bridge over the Oskil River?
What’s funny about it?
You were claiming it was part of a big propaganda push. I pointed out that it was a response to Russian claims. Russia claimed control of the city. Zelensky took a picture in front of the city sign.
I don’t know what you think propaganda is, how it works, and what you consider a “big push”. But I feel you’re miscategorizing, misinterpreting, and having wrong expectations. Ukraine still does plenty of politics and - if you want to call it that - propaganda. Focus and situations change. There’s only so much they can do, and only so much that makes sense and is worth the effort invested.
That instance of taking and posting a picture was very successful publicity. It doesn’t mean they won’t continue to face challenges or that they don’t know they will.
If you’re trying to make a different point, you gotta be more specific instead of posing these open questions. It makes me waste time interpreting, formulating answers, and expanding context as well.