The heads of services and unit commanders of the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade (OMBr) have expressed their disagreement with the leadership's decision to replace their commander, Colonel Andriy Usanov. In a corresponding appeal to the Commander of the Ground Forces, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavlyuk, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, they call for a review of this decision, which has caused concern among the military.
"He does not thoughtlessly sacrifice his people for orders, for him the first place is the life of each of us, which is why the commander of the 31st Motorized Rifle Brigade, Colonel Andriy Yurievich USANOV, is displeasing to the high command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and he is being removed from his post. The heads of services and unit commanders oppose such a decision of the commander-in-chief," the appeal states.
It is also emphasized that Colonel USANOV Andrey Yurievich is a professional military man, a paratrooper officer, a commander who has respect and authority among his subordinate personnel of the brigade, whom they trust and under whose command every serviceman of the 31st Motorized Rifle Brigade is ready to go into battle. A commander who effectively plans and conducts combat operations, who rationally uses human resources and values each and every one. Under his leadership, the brigade achieved significant successes, which was repeatedly noted by the higher command.
“But, unfortunately, the high command does not need the truth about the real state of affairs from the front area, which is courageously held by our fighters, of whom there are very few left, under the command of Colonel USANOV, and instead of replenishing the infantry battalions with mobilization resources, the command makes a decision to replace the brigade commander, which is not rational and meaningless, since the combat capability of the units will not increase from this, and shells for howitzers will not appear. This decision will significantly reduce the morale and fighting spirit of the brigade, and undermine confidence in the high command.
We ask that Colonel Andriy Yurievich USANOV remain the commander of the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade!” – emphasize the heads of services and commanders of units of the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade.
Dismissal of Emil Ishkulov from the position of commander of the 80th Brigade of the DShV
Earlier, the commanders of battalions and divisions of the 80th separate Galician airborne assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to remove Brigadier General Emil Ishkulov from his post. Colonel Ishkulov has been leading the brigade since the end of 2022.
Subsequently, the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that Emil Ishkulov should be transferred to a higher position.
