Ukraine has dismissed a senior commander following the emergence of photographs depicting emaciated soldiers who were forced to drink rainwater and melt snow to endure conditions on the frontline against Russian forces.
Disturbing Images of Malnourished Troops
Anastasiia Silchuk, the wife of one of the soldiers, shared the images on social media, showing four men with pale complexions, prominent ribcages, and thin arms. Relatives reported that the troops had been defending positions on the left bank of the Oskil River, near the northeastern city of Kupiansk, for eight months. During this time, food and medical supplies could only be delivered by drone.
“When the lads arrived at the frontlines, they weighed over 80–90kg. But now they weigh around 50kg,” Ms Silchuk wrote in her post. She detailed a ten-day gap between deliveries, during which the soldiers were forced to drink rainwater and melt snow to survive. “The longest they went without food was 17 days. They weren't listened to on the radio, or perhaps no one wanted to listen to them. My husband shouted and begged, saying there was no food and water,” she added, emphasizing that this was not an isolated incident.
Relatives Speak Out
Another relative, Ivanna Poberezhnyuk, stated that soldiers were “losing consciousness from hunger.” Her father was evacuated from the position, but others remained stranded. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed it had replaced the commander responsible for supplying the soldiers. The brigade acknowledged logistical challenges, noting that deliveries were only possible by air due to the proximity to enemy lines.
A spokesperson explained: “Everything is done by drones. The Russians pay maximum attention to the deliveries of food, ammunition, and fuel. They intercept and shoot down as much as possible. Sometimes they are not so interested in our military equipment as in logistics, actually.”
Improved Conditions After Publicity
In response to the threat, Ukraine has increasingly used unmanned ground robots to deliver supplies to exposed areas and evacuate wounded soldiers. Russia has destroyed bridges near the Oskil River in an attempt to cut off Ukrainian forces on the left bank. Ms Silchuk reported on Friday that conditions had improved since the images were made public. The new commander called and promised to resolve the situation. “My husband wrote to me that he's just eaten more than he has in the last eight months,” she said. “The lads are eating little by little at the moment. Their stomachs have shrunk, and they don't know whether they will have food tomorrow or not. I believe this situation needed to be publicised. There needs to be a rotation; the boys require medical treatment.”
Ukraine’s military command announced it would investigate the matter, adding: “It should be noted that recently another shipment of food was delivered to the position of the 14th Infantry brigade. If favourable conditions exist, an immediate evacuation of our soldiers will be carried out.”
