Ukrainian military training: in need of an upgrade

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has brought to light significant challenges within the Ukrainian military training system. Issues such as inadequate training durations, concerns about training personnel quality, and incidents impacting both recruits and operational security have raised alarms about the effectiveness of current practices.

The Yavoriv Military Base Attack and Operational Security

On 13 March 2022, the Yavoriv military base, located near the Polish border, was struck by Russian missiles. According to Ukrainian officials, the facility was hit by 30 missiles, resulting in at least 35 deaths and 134 injuries. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that up to 180 foreign mercenaries were killed in the strike, although reports on the ground maintain that this was a gross over-estimate. This incident underscored the critical importance of operational security, especially concerning the sharing of sensitive information on social media platforms.

Training Duration and Quality Concerns

Reports have indicated a significant reduction in basic training periods for Ukrainian recruits, with durations decreasing from six weeks to as little as ten days or even one week before deployment to the front lines. This abbreviated training has raised concerns about the preparedness of soldiers for combat situations. Additionally, the quality of training personnel has been questioned, with instances of officers who underperformed on the battlefield being reassigned to training roles. Such practices may adversely affect the effectiveness of training programmes.

This author has heard stories of recruits not even being allowed to fire live rounds before they arrive at the front line. The skills necessary to be an effective soldier, such as firing a gun accurately at a target, are having to be learned when recruits arrive at the front line.

Incidents of Hazing and Discipline Issues

There have been multiple reports of hazing and disciplinary issues within training camps, including instances of brutality by training officers and conflicts amongst recruits. Such incidents can undermine morale, cohesion, and overall effectiveness of military units. Addressing these issues is vital to ensure a professional and disciplined military force.

Comparative Assessment with Russian Military Training

While the Ukrainian military faces challenges in training, the Russian military has also encountered serious issues. Analyses of Russian troop behaviour on the battlefield suggest that Russian troops have experienced problems related to training quality and preparedness, including lack of adequate equipment and inexperience in coordination of assaults, and lack of expertise with weapons. In addition, discussions have highlighted a lack of non-commissioned officers (NCO's) in the Russian military, which has impacted their operational effectiveness. However direct comparisons are complex due to differing military structures, doctrines, and the lack of available resources from within Russia about training standards due to the restrictions within Russia on freedom of the media.

Some intriguing evidence has recently emerged from the interrogation of Chinese nationals recruited by the Russian Armed Forces who were captured by the Ukrainian military. The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has stated that these Chinese nationals had never even seen a gun before being deployed to the front line in Ukraine. (Contrast this with North Korean troops, better trained, who have not been sent into occupied Ukraine but only to fight Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory.)

Recommendations for Enhancing Training Standards

To address these challenges and enhance the effectiveness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, several measures could be considered:

1. Standardising Training Durations: Implementing a consistent and adequate training period to ensure all recruits attain necessary combat skills and knowledge.

2. Improving Trainer Selection: Establishing stringent criteria for selecting training officers to ensure they possess the requisite experience and competencies.

3. Strengthening Discipline and Oversight: Enforcing strict policies against hazing and brutality, coupled with mechanisms for recruits to report misconduct without fear of reprisal.

4. Enhancing Operational Security Training: Educating recruits on the importance of operational security, particularly regarding information sharing on digital platforms.

5. Seeking International Collaboration: Engaging with foreign military partners to adopt best practices, and potentially involving experienced international military trainers to elevate training standards.

Addressing these areas is crucial for developing a competent, disciplined, and effective military force capable of meeting the challenges posed by ongoing and future conflicts. The Ukrainian Armed Forces senior command seems aware of the problem; Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, declared on 13 December 2004 that a "massive transformation" in training methods is required, and there have been reports of untrained new Ukrainian recruits freezing on the battlefield because they have not been properly trained. It is unrealistic to expect soldiers to fight on the battlefield without adequate and disciplined training, and this translates into a lack of discipline on the battlefield.

Nevertheless with a standing army of 880,000 troops and an estimated more than 1,000 Ukrainians a week appearing voluntarily at recruitment centres, the task of transforming this immense bureaucracy so that training standards are improved is formidable. It has been suggested that Ukraine needs to increase recruitment levels to 30,000 a month; if that objective is to be achieved then maximum priority needs to be given to the "massive transformation" of training new recruits.