Kathrine Frich
Being far from home and family for an extended period changes how a person views the world around them.
When that time is spent in a high pressure environment where safety is never guaranteed, the psychological impact can become a heavy burden for anyone to carry.
Mounting mental strain
A study by Ukraine’s Military Ombudsman cited by Digi24 has found that soldiers stationed for more than 40 days at frontline positions begin to show signs of deep apathy. Ombudsman Olha Reshetilova said troops in such conditions can reach a point where they “no longer care whether they survive or not.”
According to the Kyiv Independent, the Ukrainian military has struggled with personnel shortages, leaving some units deployed for months without relief.
Research from the ombudsman’s office indicates that extended deployments significantly weaken combat readiness due to psychological exhaustion.
Rules ignored
Reshetilova told Ukrainska Pravda that any deployment exceeding 40 days should be considered ineffective. She stressed that commanders need to take these findings seriously.
Current regulations formally limit frontline deployment to 15 days, but she said these rules are widely disregarded. “This is a dead rule that no one follows, which in turn means that there are virtually no limits,” she said.
As a result, many soldiers remain in high-risk positions far longer than intended, often without rotation.
Calls for reform
Reshetilova said her office is preparing proposals for Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky to revise deployment rules. She linked the issue to broader shortcomings in Ukraine’s mobilization system.
“Certainty will help people decide to serve. We should offer people to enlist for two to three years. In my opinion, that would be fair,” she said.
She also argued that Ukraine must rethink its long-term approach, adding, “We need to become a militarized society where everyone is prepared to join the armed forces.”
Wider concerns
The ombudsman suggested that up to 1.6 million people could potentially be mobilized, allowing for more sustainable troop rotations.
Her remarks follow recent leadership changes in the military. On April 24, the General Staff dismissed commanders from the 14th Mechanized Brigade and the 10th Army Corps amid accusations of lost positions and inadequate support, according to reports.
Unverified claims have also circulated online about poor conditions, including shortages of food and water for troops in parts of the Kharkiv region.
Sources: Kyiv Independent, Ukrainska Pravda, Digi24.
