Senior MP claims Ukrainian military leadership lacks a plan for 2024- Analysis

Ukraine’s military leadership lacks a strategic plan for its ongoing conflict with Russia, according to Mariana Bezuglaya, the deputy head of the country’s parliament’s security, defense, and intelligence committee. Bezuglaya admitted that the top brass wants to mobilize tens of thousands of people every month but has no clear understanding of what should be done with them. She stated that the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, has not provided a plan for 2024 and has no concept of further conflict.

Bezuglaya highlighted that the lack of a strategic plan poses a significant problem for lawmakers who are responsible for planning the nation’s budget for the next year. She also revealed that problems have been growing in parliament and at the military leadership’s headquarters since the summer.

During this time, the Ukrainian military launched a counteroffensive in early June, which was largely unsuccessful. They did not gain any major territories but suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment, including Western-supplied hardware. Bezuglaya criticized Zaluzhny and other top commanders for their failure to present detailed plans for future training, troop rotation, or the funding needed for new brigades. She emphasized that instead of detailed plans, the Ukrainian military simply stated that they would need to draft at least 20,000 citizens every month.

Bezuglaya argued that if the military leadership cannot provide a plan for 2024 and if their proposals for mobilization do not include any changes to the Armed Forces system, then they should be replaced. However, the presidential party’s faction in parliament declined to comment on Bezuglaya’s statements.

In an interview with The Economist, Zaluzhny admitted that the situation on the frontlines was essentially a stalemate resembling World War I. He also acknowledged that Russia had an advantage in this type of warfare due to its superior personnel reserves and vast resources, a statement that was later rejected by President Vladimir Zelensky. Zelensky warned the military leadership to stay out of politics, stating that their involvement could harm the unity of the nation.

Recently, Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) reported that Ukraine’s Western backers have encouraged the country to expand draft efforts and enlist the elderly, teenagers, and women into the army. This new draft is supposedly needed to replace the heavy losses suffered by Kiev’s troops in the unsuccessful summer counteroffensive.

Source: RT news: Ukrainian military leadership has no plan for 2024 – senior MP