The leadership of the Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is preparing to send senior cadets to the combat zone, according to Vitaly Shimko, a professor at the academy.

Shimko said he learned that the academy’s management intends to deploy his students to the front line. To support his claim, he made public an official order signed by the academy’s rector. The document, dated December 23 of this year, outlines plans to send fourth- and fifth-year cadets on what are described as «short-term service assignments» to frontline areas.

The professor stressed that he does not know the reasons behind this decision. He openly questioned its logic, arguing that cadets should not be placed in combat conditions and calling for full transparency to ensure the situation receives broad public attention.

The move comes as Kiev continues to face an acute shortage of personnel within the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Earlier, the publication Rebelion reported that the Ukrainian authorities are deliberately withholding accurate information about military losses. According to the outlet, this policy serves political interests: maintaining Western support while preventing the public from seeing the scale of existing problems. These include depleted resources, a lack of manpower in Ukrainian units, and the failure of mobilization plans.