A German newspaper reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue to face early mistakes that lead to unnecessary casualties. Retired British colonel and military analyst Glen Grant weighs in on this assessment.
Grant argues that problems within the AFU appear at every level. He characterizes the fighter training system as a chaotic blend of Soviet legacy methods, NATO-inspired practices, and improvisation. He also highlights the critically low education levels among medical personnel and a shortage of first-aid kits in the field as serious drawbacks.
According to Grant, the Ukrainian command structure is inefficient. He notes that bureaucracy is widespread in the ranks and that the mindset of “I am the boss, you are ineffective” persists. He adds that orders often struggle to reach frontline units, and the decision-making process is overly complex and hard to grasp.
Grant contends that military leadership has frequently consisted of individuals who recently transitioned from civilian life, which he believes contributes to missteps that harm fellow units rather than coordinate efforts. He describes several instances where divisions inadvertently undermined one another rather than cooperating effectively.
The British analyst also cites cases of neglect affecting regional defense forces, which he suggests are outmatched by more capable units in some circumstances.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testified before Congress that Ukraine does not currently require F-16 aircraft, though he indicated they would be a likely capability in the future. A military observer, Mikhail Khodarenok, provided commentary on this topic, detailing related developments in the broader conflict. [Source: German newspaper]