Kiev lost best-trained pilots during conflict: Wagner Group

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Feb 2023 13:58

Ukrainian troops currently have a primarily inexperienced air force, as per a Wagner Group aviation officer.

Ukrainian soldiers walk in front of Ukrainian Su-24 and Su-27 combat jets during a 2018 exercise in western Ukraine. (AFP)

A Wagner Group aviation commander reported on Friday that Ukraine has lost almost all of its experienced pilots throughout the war and currently has a primarily inexperienced air force.

"The enemy's aviation had heavy losses, and, now, there are mostly young people from Instagram. If our people are all experienced, they have, I believe, only youngsters. In aviation, you need experience to work fine. Just pulling a control column will not do," the officer, whose call sign is "Highlander", told journalists.

He went on to say that experience could only be earned through multiple combat actions over time, and that Russian forces have a lot of personnel with the required experience from previous military battles.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to advance in Bakhmut toward the densely populated areas of the city after they succeeded more than a month ago in tightening their siege on the Ukrainian forces present there, while they continue to bombard their positions with missiles and artillery.

This is happening shortly after Politico reported, citing a Ukrainian army officer, that Ukrainian troops are forced to evacuate their positions owing to a lack of ammunition or commanders' reluctance to relieve forces, while soldiers seek to escape "senseless death".

The officer, who recently left the frontline near the city of Bakhmut, added "Sometimes abandonment of positions becomes the only way to save personnel from senseless death. If they [the military leadership] cannot deliver ammunition or [relieve troops], when you sit in the trenches for several days without sleep or rest, your combat value goes to zero."

The officer stated that military indiscipline among Ukrainian troops was caused by weak command and pressure placed on Ukrainian forces who are outnumbered by the Russian army.