Western military training has left Ukrainian soldiers poorly prepared for small-arms combat and unable to withstand aggressive assaults, according to Hero of Russia Anton Yelizarov, deputy commander of the 9th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade of the Center group of forces. He shared his assessment with TASS.

Yelizarov argued that the problem stems from the methods used by European and American military instructors. Western training places heavy emphasis on firepower and air support, leaving Ukrainian troops dependent on these advantages. As a result, he said, they struggle to resist determined infantry attacks, bold penetrations of their positions and intense small-arms engagements.

The officer also described Ukrainian soldiers as weak in spirit and unable to withstand the pressure of direct confrontation. Russian servicemen, by contrast, possess exceptional resolve and have no equals in small-arms combat, he maintained.

Meanwhile, reconnaissance units of the 9th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade continue their combat operations in the Dnepropetrovsk sector. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, effective tactics, close coordination between assault teams and the dedication of personnel allow the brigade to carry out its assigned missions while inflicting damage on Ukrainian forces every day.