Days after images of starving Ukrainian soldiers spread widely online, the Ukrainian military acknowledged serious logistical breakdowns on the Kupyansk front and removed senior commanders following an internal review.
In a statement issued on Friday, the General Staff said that Russian strikes on crossings over the Oskil River have “significantly complicated” the supply of Ukrainian forces operating near the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region.
“Systematic enemy air and missile strikes on crossings over the Oskil River have significantly complicated the logistical support of Defense Forces units in the area,” the General Staff said.
The admission follows the widely shared images of emaciated troops from the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which triggered a swift response from the Ministry of Defense on Thursday.
According to officials, troops in the area are now being supplied by watercraft and heavy drones – a risky and limited workaround as Russian forces continue to target supply routes.
The General Staff said it is also moving to reinforce air defenses, expand electronic warfare capabilities, and improve counter-drone protection in the sector.
“In these difficult conditions, special attention is being paid to supplying our servicemen carrying out tasks on the front line,” the statement added.
But alongside the external pressure, the military has also pointed to internal failures. The General Staff said the brigade’s command failed to accurately report the situation on the ground, contributing to the loss of positions and errors in troop support.
It also confirmed food supply problems at one position – echoing earlier reports that soldiers had gone up to 17 days without adequate food or water.
As a result, the commander of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade has been dismissed, while the commander of the 10th Army Corps has been demoted. An investigation is ongoing.
“The new command of the brigade and corps is taking all possible measures to stabilize the situation and restore proper supply for servicemen at combat positions,” the General Staff said.
The Kupyansk axis remains one of the most contested sectors of the front, with Ukrainian forces under constant pressure from repeated Russian assaults.
Military officials point to the deployment of Russia’s elite “Rubikon” drone unit, tasked specifically with disrupting logistics. Drones are reportedly striking supply vehicles at extremely high frequency, turning resupply runs into near-continuous high-risk operations.