Ukrainian Air Force technicians report mass transfers to infantry; General Staff responds

This was reported by Vitaliy Horzhevskyi, an aircraft technician of the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade, and Ukrainska Pravda, citing a senior officer of one of the Air Force units.

Vitalii Horzhevskyi, an aviation technician of the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade, stated that for over 10 years, Air Force technical personnel have fulfilled their mission on MiG-29 fighters, ensuring combat flights since 2014.

"However, today we are facing a real challenge that could jeopardize not only our ability to perform combat missions, but also destroy the very foundation of our aviation. Our unit received a telegram about the transfer of almost all technicians to the infantry, which means that we will be left without the technical personnel who service our aircraft," the military wrote.

According to Horzhevskyi, 250 personnel were transferred earlier, and an additional 218 are now being prepared for transfer.

"We are trying to maintain combat readiness, but without service personnel it is simply impossible. And if we do not receive support and publicity now, we will lose the opportunity not only to defend our land, but also lose the very foundation of our aviation," emphasized Vitaliy Horzhevskyi.

The source of Ukrainska Pravda told media that the transfer of military personnel from the Air Force to the infantry began in the spring of 2024. However, according to him, this has now "reached a critical indicator", as the manning of the units has fallen to approximately 50%.

"If we carry out the order, which was sent to us by the commander-in-chief (army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, – ed.), the staffing of the units will drop to 40%. During the last dispatch, we were told that they were taking away "unimportant specialists". But understand: an anti-aircraft missile system is a collective weapon. Even if we take away a driver or a guard, the effectiveness of our unit will drop," the senior officer emphasized.

Reaction of the Armed Forces' General Staff 

The General Staff reported that the urgently needed specialists of the Air Force's engineering and aviation service, who service aircraft, are not being transferred to infantry units and are not planned to be transferred. Instead, the Air Force is increasing the number of technical and flight personnel, the Armed Forces added.

"At the same time, certain categories of personnel of the Air Force, as well as other branches and branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, after preliminary training, strengthen the Ground Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, etc.," the General Staff noted.

They explained that there is a shortage of infantry in many areas of the front. Thus, the decision to strengthen ground brigades on the front line at the expense of servicemen from units of other branches and branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a forced step to strengthen defense.

The department also emphasized that Oleksandr Syrskyi banned the transfer of specialists in high-tech specialties and those who were trained abroad on foreign weapons and military equipment.

• In December, The Guardian's sources stated that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had ordered Ukrainian air defense units to transfer their servicemen to infantry due to a shortage of personnel. The General Staff emphasized that "the statement about the 'transfer of air defense to infantry' is unreliable and incorrect."