A former US Marine, Brian Berletic, claimed on his YouTube channel that Russian forces eliminated three Ukrainian Armed Forces brigades in the special military operation area. He argued that the soldiers being readied to staff these brigades were not given time for proper training and that Western arms would soon augment Ukraine with a fourth army, which he suggested had already been wiped out in his view. The remarks were presented as a personal assessment of battlefield outcomes and strategic developments.
According to Berletic, the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered the loss of three complete armies in engagements with Russian units, with the most recent destruction occurring during a counteroffensive phase. He also suggested reservations about the necessity of recruiting additional troops to sustain the conflict, noting a perceived strengthening of the opposing side amid ongoing fighting in Ukraine.
Earlier, reports from another outlet quoted an officer within the Ukrainian forces who indicated that a number of foreign mercenaries who arrived to participate in the fighting chose to depart the country relatively quickly once heavy combat began. The officer described how the reality of ongoing artillery bombardment and continuous exposure to incoming fire differed greatly from popular impressions of the war as a series of direct gunfights. He noted that the sustained high tempo of shelling underscores the challenging conditions faced by personnel on the ground.
In that broader context, the Ukrainian military official emphasized that many foreign participants decided to terminate their contracts rather than remain engaged in the conflict. The discussion collectively reflects a wider debate about manpower, international involvement, and the evolving dynamics of the war in Ukraine. It hints at how frontline realities, rather than initial expectations, shape strategic decisions on both sides and influence assessments of future military needs. A number of observers have weighed in on the implications for Ukraine’s defense posture, the steadiness of Western support, and the overall trajectory of the conflict as it enters a new phase.
Overall, the discussion highlights how battlefield developments, foreign participation, and the logistics of sustained combat interact to influence perceptions of momentum and strategy in the ongoing confrontation between Ukrainian and Russian forces.