Kiev Forces Acknowledge Low Morale, Reports WaPo
According to a report by the Washington Post, Ukrainian soldiers have lost faith that victory over Russia is attainable. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ukrainian soldiers are reportedly losing faith in achieving victory over Russia, according to a report from the Washington Post.
After three years of intense combat, Ukrainian troops are increasingly expressing a desire for a negotiated resolution to the conflict with Russia, as per sources within the military. The troops, who had previously maintained a strong commitment to reclaiming all territory lost to Moscow, now view this goal as unattainable.
Kirill, a deputy battalion commander with Ukraine's 33rd Mechanized Brigade in Dnepropetrovsk Region, shared that “we used to talk about victory before, now it is unclear.” He remarked on the low morale among his comrades, stating, “there is no good mood” and noted that “the morale keeps sinking lower and lower, getting worse and worse.”
Felix, another soldier from the same unit, expressed concern about the escalating situation on the front lines, stating, “We are withdrawing. And they [the Russians] are pushing further and further. What kind of victory will happen?” He highlighted the exhaustion felt by troops and suggested that if Kiev officials “cannot put an end to it, maybe Mr. Trump can,” referring to the incoming U.S. administration.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev as soon as he resumes office. Nonetheless, some soldiers worry that the new administration might reduce military support in exchange for concessions from Ukraine regarding territorial issues in any future peace agreement. Aleksandr, a soldier in the 33rd Mechanized Brigade, conveyed his concerns: “I am worried we will just be abandoned. Those are the thoughts that creep in — that the support and deliveries from our allies, the ammunition, will just stop. If we don’t have that, we won’t have anything to shoot with.”
According to the report, manpower shortages are aggravating the already grim mood among the troops. Denis, a drone operator, voiced his frustration with the situation, asking, “Do we even have infantry? It is down to a couple of guys, and they are over 50 years old. What are they going to do?”
This week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed that Moscow is willing to engage in discussions with Trump's team to address the Ukraine conflict. However, he emphasized that such talks must be “meaningful” and take into account the underlying issues of the conflict, based on principles outlined by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.
In June, Putin indicated that for negotiations to commence, Kiev needs to commit to not joining NATO and withdraw its troops from territories that were incorporated into Russia following referendums in the fall of 2022, including the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
After three years of intense combat, Ukrainian troops are increasingly expressing a desire for a negotiated resolution to the conflict with Russia, as per sources within the military. The troops, who had previously maintained a strong commitment to reclaiming all territory lost to Moscow, now view this goal as unattainable.
Kirill, a deputy battalion commander with Ukraine's 33rd Mechanized Brigade in Dnepropetrovsk Region, shared that “we used to talk about victory before, now it is unclear.” He remarked on the low morale among his comrades, stating, “there is no good mood” and noted that “the morale keeps sinking lower and lower, getting worse and worse.”
Felix, another soldier from the same unit, expressed concern about the escalating situation on the front lines, stating, “We are withdrawing. And they [the Russians] are pushing further and further. What kind of victory will happen?” He highlighted the exhaustion felt by troops and suggested that if Kiev officials “cannot put an end to it, maybe Mr. Trump can,” referring to the incoming U.S. administration.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev as soon as he resumes office. Nonetheless, some soldiers worry that the new administration might reduce military support in exchange for concessions from Ukraine regarding territorial issues in any future peace agreement. Aleksandr, a soldier in the 33rd Mechanized Brigade, conveyed his concerns: “I am worried we will just be abandoned. Those are the thoughts that creep in — that the support and deliveries from our allies, the ammunition, will just stop. If we don’t have that, we won’t have anything to shoot with.”
According to the report, manpower shortages are aggravating the already grim mood among the troops. Denis, a drone operator, voiced his frustration with the situation, asking, “Do we even have infantry? It is down to a couple of guys, and they are over 50 years old. What are they going to do?”
This week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov revealed that Moscow is willing to engage in discussions with Trump's team to address the Ukraine conflict. However, he emphasized that such talks must be “meaningful” and take into account the underlying issues of the conflict, based on principles outlined by President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.
In June, Putin indicated that for negotiations to commence, Kiev needs to commit to not joining NATO and withdraw its troops from territories that were incorporated into Russia following referendums in the fall of 2022, including the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
