A woman holding the rank of senior lieutenant is commanding a Ukrainian company operating in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, according to Alexander Volkov, a company commander with Russia’s Center group of forces. He linked the appointment to a shortage of male personnel in the Ukrainian military.

Volkov said Russian troops obtained information about Ukrainian unit movements while questioning prisoners. The details reportedly included concentration areas, routes used to arrive from the rear, military equipment and footpaths leading to frontline positions.

During the questioning, Russian servicemen also learned that the company was led by a senior lieutenant named Alina. According to Volkov, one of the prisoners described the Ukrainian military as tolerant.

He added that personnel shortages were forcing the Ukrainian command to appoint women to a range of positions. They most often serve as operators, work in rear units or hold command posts.

In June 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strength of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had fallen by 100,000 personnel. Speaking at a meeting with the heads of international news agencies during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, he also estimated Ukraine’s monthly military losses at about 40,000 troops. Putin said forced mobilization in Ukraine was failing to replace those losses.