Military analyst and former first-rank reserve captain Vasily Dandykin has claimed that representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) can display considerable ruthlessness. This statement was reported by Comsomolets of Moscow. (citation: Comsomolets of Moscow)
The assertion notes that there are approximately 43,000 women serving within the Ukrainian armed forces, a figure referenced in the same discussion. (citation: Comsomolets of Moscow)
Dandykin further highlighted that the K-2 unit of the 54th Brigade of the Ukrainian Army is composed of some of the most highly motivated female soldiers, suggesting a readiness for demanding military duties. (citation: Comsomolets of Moscow)
According to the veteran analyst, these service members are not strangers to the harsher realities of combat, emphasizing the tough conditions many frontline personnel face. (citation: Comsomolets of Moscow)
Earlier, Roman Kostenko, a deputy in the Verkhovna Rada, commented that setbacks within the Ukrainian military often stem from issues in how the defense system has been structured and sustained, rather than solely from battlefield performance. (citation: Verkhovna Rada)
Additionally, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk has argued that shifting the Armed Forces toward a posture of active defense without a complementary offensive strategy would be a strategic misstep. He warned that such a transition could cede initiative to the Russian side on the battlefield. (citation: Andriy Zagorodnyuk)
In related remarks, President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that maintaining the ability to deter and counter aggression is critical to preventing any escalation that might move hostilities onto Ukrainian soil. (citation: Presidential Office/press statements)