The Air Force will study how its military were transferred to infantry units
16 January 17:35
A special commission has been set up in the Air Force to study the situation regarding the transfer of Air Force personnel to other branches and services of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
The situation with the transfer of Air Force specialists to the combat brigades of the Land Forces was highlighted earlier this week by the Ukrainska Pravda publication. It cited military testimony and reported, in particular, that the latest order from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky to transfer personnel was received by Air Force units on January 11. According to this order, more than 5,000 military personnel were to be transferred to the Land Forces.
On the same day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his traditional televised address , instructed the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Anatoliy Kryvonozhko not to reduce the number of specialists needed by the Air Force to perform combat missions, and to explain to the public the situation regarding their transfers to the Land Forces.
What the General Staff explained
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has officially announced that there were no plans to transfer the acutely shortage of specialists of the Air Force engineering and aviation service who maintain aircraft to infantry units.
At the same time, the General Staff acknowledged that “certain categories of personnel of the Air Force, as well as other branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, after preliminary training in training centers, reinforce the Land Forces, Air Assault Forces, etc.”.
As explained by the General Staff, “the situation at the front is not easy, many areas lack infantrymen, and the decision to strengthen the ground brigades at the front line with soldiers from other branches and types of the Armed Forces is a forced step by the military leadership to strengthen our defense.”
What the Ukrainian Air Force said
The Air Force Command has officially announced that there will be no transfer of aviation engineers and military personnel with shortage of specialties in the Air Force to units of other branches of the Armed Forces. The group of “untouchables” also included those who had studied abroad to service Western anti-aircraft missile equipment, experienced military personnel from mobile fire groups, and other highly specialized specialists whose replacement is objectively difficult.
But, the Command added at the time, the situation at the front does require difficult decisions from the top military leadership, including the transfer of Air Force personnel to units of other branches and types of the Armed Forces.
That is, as is customary in the military, the Air Force Command agreed with the explanations of senior officers from the General Staff.
What will the commission do then?
Reportedly, the Commission will work to prevent the transfer of servicemen in shortage specialties from the Air Force, which could significantly affect the combat capability of the Air Force units.
The commission will also check whether there have been any violations in this regard, and if such cases are found, decisions will be made to correct them.
The Air Force Command reminded that there are hotlines and e-mails in the military command and control bodies, where the military can contact:
– in the Air Force Command – tel. 0800500410-2-5, e-mail: [email protected]
– in the air commands:
“Center” – tel: 095 768 6398, e-mail: [email protected]
“South” – tel: 050 934 8119, mail: [email protected]
“West” – tel: 0 322 355 589, mail: [email protected]
“East” – tel: 0800500410-2-4, e-mail: [email protected]
