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Ukraine’s defence ministry has fired a top commander after photos emerged of a group of emaciated soldiers who have been left on the frontline for months without proper food and water.

The scandal erupted after the wife of one of the soldiers, Anastasiia Silchuk, posted the images on social media. The four men appeared to be pale and visibly malnourished, with prominent ribcages and thin arms.

The soldiers had spent eight months defending a shrinking bulge of territory on the left bank of the Oskil River, near the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, their relatives said. Supplies of food and medicines could only be flown in by drone.

“When the lads arrived at the frontlines, they weighed over 80–90kg. But now they weigh around 50kg,” Silchuk posted. After one delivery, she said, no more food turned up for 10 days. The soldiers were forced to drink rainwater and melt snow to survive.

“The longest they went without food was 17 days. They weren’t listened to on the radio, or perhaps no one wanted to listen to them. My husband shouted and begged, saying there was no food and water,” she said, adding that the problem was bigger than just one case.

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[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Just stop giving Ukraine money so they have to come to an agreement. You're talking as if the average Ukrainian concript wants to get sent to the frontline to die for a pointless war which will result in Ukraine losing anyway when Europe loses interest.

Unlike actual resistance fighters, Ukrainians don't want to participate in the war.

[-] Vergissmeinnicht@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 week ago

An "agreement" under duress that includes territorial concessions. And the inhabitants of those territories will then promptly be genocided.

And then Russia will attack again when they've rearmed, to do the same to the rest of Ukraine.

Amazing solution.

[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago

There is such a thing as security guarantees.

[-] EmilyIsTrans 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Ukraine had guarantees before they were invaded

[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago

They had worthless security guarantees which were not enforceable.

[-] stickly@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The only way to enforce a guarantee is with guns you dipshit

[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago

Guns Ukraine didn't get once already.

[-] Siegfried@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Guarantees from russia? The only guarantee would be to dissolve russia once and for all.

[-] Vergissmeinnicht@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

There is such a thing as security guarantees.

Which are completely useless when Russia frames territorial gains as a great victory and uses that as a propaganda tool to propel its minions into power in guarantor countries, like AfD, Reform, RN

[-] Mandrilleren@feddit.dk 15 points 1 week ago

Europe losing interest has been a talking point since 2022 but it has never actually happened.

It certainly is a pointles war, but not becuase of Ukraine. As long as Ukraine as a country wants to keep fighting, I see no reason not the help them defend them selves.

[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 week ago

Ukraine as a country doesn't want to keep fighting at all. There's a reason Zelensky is not allowing elections. Ukrainians are as happy to go into the meat grinder as the average Russian.

Europe promised to give Ukraine what they needed to win and then gave Ukraine their old equipment to just barely keep hanging on while Europe bought new military gear. Not the mention the age demographics aren't looking too hot. Manpower isn't infinite.

[-] Mr_WorldlyWiseman 16 points 1 week ago
[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 week ago

Even Western media is reporting on it these days get with the times.

[-] EvergreenGuru@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

If they have enough soldiers, then why was this platoon malnourished and forgotten? Why are all of Ukraine’s big “wins” in the media all done by use of drone? Where are these magical, Ukrainian Super Soldiers to retake ground against Russia?

[-] SupraMario@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

Because shit happens, and some commanders still have this "USSR" logic.

You think war is just black and white and easy?

FFS even the USA, the strongest military in the world has a food issue occuring right now on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

War isn't a video game.

this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2026
377 points (100.0% liked)

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