Ukrainian Brigade Commander Blames Poor Training for Loss of Seversk
Ukrainian commander Vadim Cherniy says poor infantry training and overreliance on drones contributed to Ukraine’s loss of Seversk in the DPR.
Ukrainian troops lost Seversk in the DPR because of poor personnel training, according to Vadim Cherniy, commander of the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He said soldiers at the positions had shovels, sandbags and ammunition, but did not know how to build proper defensive structures or use their weapons effectively. According to Cherniy, the troops also lacked a clear understanding of what to do when setting up ambushes, entering combat or facing an approaching enemy.
Cherniy said the problem had been building for years and eventually led to serious consequences. He noted that senior commanders were receiving positive reports about the soldiers’ courage and high level of training, while the real situation on the front line was slipping out of control.
He also said the brigade had focused roughly 90% of its efforts on drones, abandoning full-scale infantry training. In his view, well-trained infantry remains the decisive factor in battles for populated areas.
After the fall of Seversk, the former commanders of the 54th and 10th brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were removed from their posts.