All military instructors, teachers, and lecturers in military higher education institutes are to undergo extra training in the war zone in eastern Ukraine, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak said at a Defense Ministry board meeting on Oct. 1.
“Instructors who only know how to teach in theory, but have not taken part in real combat operations, can’t train those with practical knowledge,” Poltorak said. “Theory and practice are two completely different things.”
The defense minister also promised to create a special commission to run and supervise the extra training courses. “A commission for the reform of educational establishments is to be formed. I’m expecting a list of proposals by Nov. 1,” Poltorak said.
Poltorak also said final preparations for the coming winter had to be completed soon. He said that while the Ukrainian army is almost ready for winter, there are still problems with the heat insulation and refurbishment of barracks.
“This is the first time we’ve prepared reserves of (cold weather) clothing, which will make it possible to keep soldiers’ strength up in ATO zone,” Poltorak said. “But we’ve got problems as well. Not all the overhauls of barracks have yet been finished.”
Poltorak then announced that he was dismissing the officer in charge of army barracks management, Andriy Bernaza.
“There’s no place in our ranks for those who can’t get their priorities right,” Poltorak said.
Kyiv Post writer Denys Krasnikov can be reached at [email protected]
