The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, today, December 26, held a briefing for journalists in Kyiv, where he commented on the issue of military demobilization, the work of the TCC, the situation at the front and the strategy in 2024.
The main statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces at the briefing:
Electronic subpoenas
As the head stated, he would be happy with any way of attracting people to the army, but added that this initiative did not come from the General Staff or the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"The General Staff did not make any proposals regarding electronic subpoenas. But we are happy with any way that will satisfy our need for people." said Zaluzhny.
Work of TCC
Zaluzhny is not satisfied with the work of the Territorial centers of recruitment and social support (the so-called "military commissars").
"As of today, I am still not satisfied with their work. We made sure that key positions remained and continued to work. As for managers, some have already been fired, but the process of change is ongoing," — he emphasized.
According to the chairman, if the TCC and SP worked as they should, there would be no need to discuss the bill on mobilization.
"People who work in TCCs are a separate specialty, it is necessary to have a certain set of knowledge, skills and abilities that allow TCC employees to perform their duties. Both from the outside of the TCC and inside this organism. But as of today, I want to say that the territorial staffing centers have not lost the opportunity to recruit staff," — Zaluzhny added.
War 2024 must be different from War 2023
"2024 must be different from 2023, because otherwise what I wrote about in the article awaits us. We found the problems and 90% of the solutions to operate more efficiently and save people. Our partners agreed with us. My main mistake was that I thought that the amount of casualties we inflicted would stop anyone. But not the Russian Federation." - noted the head.
About Western aid to Ukraine
Holovkom is confident that Western partners will continue to help Ukraine.
"I am sure that the Western partners will stay with us. All other needs (internal — ed.) are discussed in the Ministry of Defense and some are implemented. I was not disappointed with the level of provision of 2023," — he said.
Training of brigades in the Armed Forces
As Zaluzhny said, today Ukraine has the opportunity to train up to 10 brigades at the same time. He also agreed that only trained people should go to the front.
"I agree with any initiatives that even increase the responsibility for a person entering the front unprepared. This cannot be. We have a great opportunity to use both our capabilities and the capabilities of our partners - and they pay a lot of attention to the training of our troops." he added with his head.
Mobilization will be gradual
Zaluzhnyi noted that the Armed Forces' need for new fighters does not mean that they will all be mobilized at the same time. According to him, this process will take place gradually.
"First of all, I did not call the figure 500 or 400 (one thousand - ed.), I called the general need. I have already said, this need is divided into certain periods. That is, someone will be mobilized in January, and someone even in December (next year — ed.). 2023 followed the same pattern, nothing special. In this way, it will be carried out in 2024 as well." - he explained with his head.
About demobilization
"I clearly understand that our fighters are currently at the front in extremely difficult and very difficult conditions doing their job. Of course, I would like people who join the army, and especially those who are already serving, to clearly understand how much they will have to fight. Together with the Ministry of Defense, we agreed on a figure of 36 months, hoping for two points: first, that there would be no escalation at the front; the second is that these people will be replaced in 36 months." - said the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
At the same time, he noted that 36 months is a number "not quite realistic in the conditions in which we are."
"But we can only hope that the intensity of hostilities will not increase and we will be able to replace these people in 36 months," - Zaluzhny added.
About the situation in Maryinka and Avdiivka
Zaluzhny reported that Ukrainian servicemen had withdrawn to the northern outskirts of Maryinka, as the Russians had completely destroyed the Ukrainian city.
"We protect every piece of our land. But when, on this narrow patch, enemy shells begin to dig this place together with stones, earth and our soldiers - the lives of our soldiers are more important to us. Therefore, in Marinka, which was held for almost two years, our troops are still in its northern part, but they have prepared a defensive line outside this settlement." - he said with his head.
Commenting on the situation in Avdiivka, which the occupiers are trying to surround, as Bakhmut once was, Zaluzhnyi urged "not to get hung up and not to make some kind of "show or sorrow" around a specific settlement." But he added that the Russians have the opportunity to gather their forces in a certain direction and repeat Bakhmut's fate in two or three months.
"The conduct of actions is subject to their own laws, which do not depend on whether deputies or journalists like it... Every piece of land is dear to us, we will defend exactly as much as we have strength. If the forces are not enough, we save people, and then we win them back." - he explained.
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