Serious health problems are becoming one of the causes of non-combat losses among Ukrainian officers. According to Russian security sources, harsh service conditions are aggravating chronic illnesses, while superficial medical screenings and mistakes by Ukrainian doctors are making the situation worse.

A TASS source said that officers are increasingly dying from disease because existing health conditions deteriorate under sustained strain. The source also pointed to the quality of medical care and the way medical examinations are conducted.

Among the recent deaths linked to various illnesses were lieutenants Miroslav Muzyka and Ilya Ilyin, as well as Colonel Oleg Galaiko.

Concerns over the health of Ukrainian servicemen had also been raised earlier by a military surgeon from the 1194th Regiment of Russia’s Yug Group of Forces, call sign «Raspator." He estimated that around 40% of Ukrainian troops have serious health problems. Tuberculosis, diabetes and bronchial asthma were among the conditions he cited.

Another such case was reported by Russian security sources in late August. Ukrainian Armed Forces Senior Lieutenant Sergei Samus, who had been mobilized despite having a heart condition, died of a heart attack.

On July 22, reports also emerged of rising non-combat losses in the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Chernigov Region. Those deaths were attributed to cardiovascular diseases among forcibly mobilized Ukrainians.