The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine denies the transfer of critically needed aviation specialists to infantry.
This was stated in a message from the General Staff on Telegram.
"The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially reports that there were no plans to transfer critically needed specialists from the engineering and aviation service of the Air Force, who maintain aircraft, to infantry units. Instead, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is actually increasing the number of technical and flight personnel," the message states.
At the same time, the General Staff notes that "certain categories" of personnel from the Air Force, as well as from other branches and types of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, will strengthen the Ground Forces and Air Assault Troops, among others, after preliminary training in training centers.
"The situation at the front is challenging, and there is a shortage of infantry in many areas. The decision to reinforce ground brigades at the front with servicemen from units of other branches and types of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a necessary step by military leadership to strengthen our defense. It should be noted that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has prohibited the transfer of specialists in high-tech specialties and those trained abroad on foreign weapons and military equipment from their current positions," the General Staff stated.
What is known about the transfer of various types of troops to infantry
As reported by UNIAN, earlier, a representative of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat commented on a statement from the British publication The Guardian claiming that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly orders units of Ukrainian air defense to transfer their military personnel to infantry due to a personnel shortage. Ignat explained that all branches and types of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are directing personnel to the Ground Forces, and the Air Force is no exception, as they are the second largest in the army.
In particular, according to his information, the Air Force is sending personnel to reinforce the front from the Combined Rifle Brigade of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where servicemen first undergo training and then, as part of units, are sent to complex combat operations. "Of course, the transfer to infantry creates problematic issues with staffing within the Air Force. There is a shortage of personnel, and this is also a well-known fact," he emphasized.
At the same time, Ignat denies that the effectiveness of air defense has declined.
And today, January 14, volunteer Serhiy Sternenko once again raised the issue of transferring military personnel from air defense units to infantry. According to him, there is a critical situation developing in the Air Force, which may lead to the loss of the aviation component as such.
Sternenko noted on Telegram that due to the forced transfer of air defense specialists, the detection of missiles and drones will significantly worsen.