Donetsk, Jan 17 - DAN. Three Ukrainian army brigades deployed at the contact line in Donbass are less than 50 percent staffed, head of the DPR People’s Militia HQ press service Daniil Bezsonov said on Thursday.
“The manpower of 128th, 57th and 58th Ukrainian army brigades at the frontline does not exceed 50 percent of full complement,” Bezsonov said.
The main reasons behind the shortage of personnel are the servicemen’s unwillingness to participate in the military conflict, a high rate of medical losses, the wounds inflicted in hazing incidents and careless handling of firearms and desertion.
Earlier reports citing DPR intelligence sources said that more than 200 Ukrainian servicemen had deserted their units in Donbass over two autumn months.*jk