The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in his interview with the British TV channel Sky News, stated that out of ten brigades that needed full equipment, the allies provided the necessary support to only two and a half.
According to the president, the Ukrainian authorities have been asking partners for more than a year to provide the necessary equipment and weapons for ten military brigades. However, due to bureaucratic obstacles and insufficient attention to Ukraine's priorities, it was possible to fully staff only a small part of what was planned.
"Someone asked me about mobilization, and I said, 'Do you want people to go to their deaths without weapons?' - Zelensky noted, stressing that the real problem is not the shortage of military personnel, but the lack of proper equipment.
The President also commented on calls from some Western partners to lower the mobilization age to 18. He emphasized that the decision on the size of the army is made by Ukraine taking into account the need to save lives.
"If European or American officials have ideas about the age of mobilization, I want to ask our partners to do their thing, and we will do ours," Zelensky concluded.
The situation with the equipment of Ukrainian brigades causes concern not only in the context of current hostilities, but also in connection with future plans. Representatives of military units also emphasize the importance of an integrated approach to defense.
Andriy Kryvushchenko, senior lieutenant of the "Freedom" battalion, noted that "the essence of Ukraine's struggle is not only the preservation of territories, but also the protection of people .
