We now dropped to the level of 2015 - volunteers on Armed Forces condition
Фото: Ukraine Crisis Media Center
Ukrainian volunteers believe that there are currently many violations and non-compliance with orders from the leadership of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These actions, in their opinion, undermine the state's defense capabilities.
Representatives of the volunteer movement reached this conclusion during a press conference at the Press Center of the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center, according to Ukrainian Military Pages.
Volunteers spoke about the catastrophic situation in the medical care of the military and the training of medical professionals. They also believe that Ruslan Khomchak went into an open confrontation with members of the public because he wanted to hide the actual situation in the army.
Natalia Voronkova, the head of the "Volunteer Hundred of Good Will" public organization, emphasized at the beginning of the press conference that this event was definitely not political. In fact, it was about the problems in the army now being silenced:
"We now dropped to the level of 2015; there are problems with staffing, medical supplies, the problem of violation of medical and evacuation and sanitary and epidemiological support and much more," she said, emphasizing that most soldiers don't know how to provide first aid in the seventh year of the war.
Voronkova also noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine didn't observe quarantine; in one of the units, the military beds were next to each other, but when she complained, the person who informed her about this violation was fired.
Volunteer, musician, leader of the band "Antytila" Taras Topolia said that the General Staff of the Armed Forces was trying to deprive members of the public of the opportunity to control decisions.
"When the war broke out, public control became very important, and it has been exercised for many years. And now volunteers are essentially prevented from conducting public activities, from exercising this control. It seems to me that their only purpose is to hide the problems that exist in the armed forces," Topolia said.
The musician believes it is the actions of the General Staff that undermine Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Besides, volunteer Mykhailo Makaruk said that as of November 3, 2020, the General Staff hadn't complied with 98 decisions of the Ministry of Defense. Of these, the largest share falls on the Logistics Forces Command (37 decisions) and personnel issues (22 decisions). "That is, in wartime, the Ministry of Defense states that the Chief of the General Staff and his retinue don't carry out direct orders," Makarchuk said.
Also during the press conference, Marchuk stated that a tribute was being collected in one of the brigades, which then went "up." "I have the facts about how a separate brigade of commanders collects a tribute from the commanders, which is UAH 20 thousand. And then this tribute goes to the top in Kyiv. I will pass these facts with the names to the investigative bodies," Marchuk reported.
Following the press conference, volunteers will appeal to the President to dismiss Ruslan Khomchak from the post of Chief of General Staff.
