Key facts
- Soldiers of Ukraine's 121st Territorial Defense Brigade in Zaporizhzhia Oblast reported four months without rotation and shortages of food and water.
- The soldiers posted an appeal on Facebook on August 9, stating they would withdraw if conditions did not improve.
- The brigade and Operational Command "South" stated that supplies were being delivered and evacuation would occur when the security situation allowed.
- The constant threat of drones makes movement to and from positions dangerous, often forcing soldiers to remain in place for extended periods.
- An order limiting military personnel to two months at positions is not always followed due to operational realities.
Service members of Ukraine's 121st Territorial Defense Brigade in Zaporizhzhia Oblast have reported enduring four months without rotation and facing persistent shortages of food and drinking water. The soldiers posted an appeal on Facebook on August 9, with Platoon Commander Anatolii Syshchuk stating his unit arrived in April and was initially expected to serve for only one month.
Syshchuk detailed that food deliveries could be delayed by three days to a week, and on one occasion, no food arrived for 12 days. He indicated that the unreliable supply chain left soldiers in a "semi-conscious state" and that they would withdraw from their positions without waiting for reinforcements due to a lack of strength and means, requesting safe passage for evacuation.
The 121st Brigade responded on August 10, asserting that essential supplies are delivered to hard-to-reach positions according to schedule, with 27 packages weighing nine kilograms each delivered to Syshchuk's unit that month. The brigade acknowledged that adverse weather and Russian actions could impede timely or complete deliveries, and stated that the information in the soldiers' appeal did not reflect all circumstances.
Operational Command "South" commented on August 12, echoing that the unit would be rotated once the security situation allowed, without providing a timeline. The command described the sector as complex and dynamic but stated the situation was under control, adding that the video message conveyed only a small part of the operational situation. They claimed approximately 240 kilograms of food supplies had been delivered in the past 30 days and measures were being implemented for a swift rotation.
Tetiana Kravchuk, Syshchuk's sister, who published the appeal, questioned the accuracy of the reported supply amounts, suggesting the actual quantity might be lower and that accountability for troop welfare often falls on ordinary soldiers. As of publication, the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi had not commented.
In late April, an order was signed limiting military personnel to two months at positions, with rotations no later than one month thereafter. However, the constant threat from Russian drones often makes troop withdrawal difficult, with rotations typically occurring during periods of bad weather when drones are less effective. Soldiers frequently spend months in dugouts, with some unable to leave for over a year.