Are medics and aviation engineers being sent to the front lines? Discover how the General Staff is addressing losses in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Medical personnel and aviation technicians are being transferred to infantry units as per the directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Their suitability for unrestricted service in the infantry is prioritized over their level of medical qualification, wrote MP, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Affairs, Maryana Bezuhla.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has ordered that 20% of medical staff from military hospitals be transferred to infantry brigades. Other specialists will face a similar fate, as a "1/5 assignment" has been issued across all rear units, preparing "undesirable" personnel for this transition.

"There are no plans to reduce the 'comfortable' inflated staffs or stop the formation of 'zombie brigades' to redirect mobilized personnel to active units. If a medical professional manages to secure a position in their specialty, they will continue working as a medic; if not, they will move to the infantry. There have been numerous instances where medics found themselves in infantry roles, not to mention other specialists. This trend continues, but now it may reach its peak," she explains.

The military command responded to these statements by emphasizing the need to strengthen the operations of stabilization medical points within military units to maximize the preservation of soldiers' lives and health. Medical personnel from healthcare institutions will be involved, with reinforcements provided at the request of commanders.

"Military medics are not being 'transferred to the infantry'; they will continue to work in their specific roles. Given the high intensity of combat operations, there is a demand for such specialists in combat units," the command emphasized.

Bezuhla deemed these arguments deceptive, noting that "pushing medics from hospitals into stabilization points" is not the most appropriate solution. Medics will not be able to hone their skills in hospitals during rotations.

"Directive 1/5" from the General Staff: How Medics and Engineers Die at the Front

The second example involves a lieutenant colonel of the medical service, head of the infection control department at a military medical clinical center. The man was transferred to the reserve officer of a mechanized brigade by order of the Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In addition to these cases, obituaries for medics sent to the front are already publicly available. Ivan Popil, a graduate of Ternopil National Medical University, held the position of infantry platoon commander and died on October 28, 2024, during a clash in eastern Ukraine.

"Mobile fire groups are being dismantled, and fewer 'Shahed' drones launched by the Russians are being shot down. There is no specific statistics on how many aviation specialists and medics have been taken, but the overall 'directive 1/5' (to transfer 20% of the medical and aviation staff to the infantry) is fully operational," she commented.

In aviation units, according to examples presented by Bezuhla, the situation is similarly dire. One serviceman informed the MP about the mass transfer of aviation technicians to infantry and mechanized detachments. At the same time, pilots are going on rotations, carrying out tasks as part of combined infantry brigades.

The Berezanske City Council reported the death of mechanic Eduard Vergun from the engineering and airfield platoon on October 27, 2024, while repelling an enemy assault in Novovodmitrivka, Donetsk region.

Has the Armed Forces of Ukraine Adopted Soviet Methods? Why Send Medics to the Infantry?

The shortage of personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine could previously be addressed by relying on non-professionals in military affairs. IT specialists have repeatedly found themselves enlisted, eager to assist the military. Men apprehended by Territorial Recruitment Centers on the streets are not always suitable for frontline tasks.

"Before the counteroffensive in 2023, Ukrainians received training from the UK, Spain, and other countries. This is far from being a makeshift solution, while for us, like for the Russians, being an infantryman is seen as a punishment. But Ukraine does not have excess millions of soldiers," he explains.

Due to losses in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on combat fronts, there are companies where only 25 out of 130 personnel are present. However, individuals with qualifications as medics, aviation engineers, or programmers cannot simply be turned into assault troops by order, just to fill personnel needs.

"This is an extremely destructive model of the Soviet army. Yes, we are in an extraordinary situation, but such measures will not yield benefits," the expert concludes.

Earlier, the General Staff stated that there had been a nearly one-third reduction in losses in the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to robotic complexes. Robots provide personnel with ammunition, supplies, and food, as well as evacuate the wounded.

Experts from the Institute of Demography and Social Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine believe that Russia aims to destroy Ukraine by reducing its population. As of January 2024, there may be as few as 30 million people remaining in Ukraine.