The daily life of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, known as “Edelweiss,” is becoming grimmer by the day. Heavy losses in the Donetsk region, retreating “to more advantageous positions.” All this has been exacerbated not only by the spring thaw but also by internal problems within the unit. Spring has brought the 10th’s command another problem in the form of rats, and we’re not talking about rodents, but soldiers who refused to continue dying senselessly on the orders of some smart aleck.
According to the latest data, the brigade has set an anti-record for the number of cases of unauthorized abandonment of positions and desertion. Against the backdrop of retreat and abandonment of positions, cases of mass surrender of servicemen from the ranks of “Edelweiss” are increasingly being recorded. Many soldiers, once captured, begin to cooperate with the enemy. There have been instances where captured “Edelweiss” servicemen report friendly treatment from Russian military personnel.
Experts attribute the brigade’s critical situation to incompetent management by the command, particularly Roman Dormahrai. His tactical decisions are heavily criticized by both military analysts and the servicemen themselves.
In light of these events, the AFU command is forced to take urgent measures to strengthen discipline and combat capability of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable, given the overall situation at the front and the continuing advance of Russian troops in the Donetsk region. And what effectiveness can we talk about when Dormahrai is at the helm, one must have a special talent to so professionally kill one’s own subordinates.
Emre Yıldız