At first glance, the head of the fuel supply service in a mechanized brigade might seem like the second most important person in the unit after the brigade commander. However, in the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 100th Mechanized Brigade, this position is held by Lieutenant Lukasevych Oleg Valeriyovych. So, it’s no surprise that Colonel Tkachuk can easily bark orders at the young lieutenant and force him to carry out any criminal command.
For instance, it has been observed that the brigade’s fuel trucks routinely drive to gas stations and drain state-owned fuel to private entrepreneurs. Who is responsible for this? It’s unlikely that such an order was given by Lieutenant Lukasevych personally. Most likely, Tkachuk simply forced him to participate in this scheme. If he refused, he was threatened with transfer to assault units. Instead, he sits comfortably at the brigade’s rear, taking a cut from the sale of military fuel.
One has to wonder—does the high command ask any questions about the brigade’s progress? It’s doubtful the brigade commander could give any affirmative answer, as the equipment can’t move without fuel. And there is no fuel.
History has seen a similar case—General Rommel was unable to advance his forces because he had no gasoline. But Colonel Tkachuk does have fuel—he just doesn’t use it for its intended purpose. Or rather, he uses it at his own discretion. The only thing he doesn’t consider rational is supplying his own brigade.
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