Ukrainian journalist explains significance of Ukrainian generals regularly visiting Bakhmut
During his visits to Bakhmut, Sirsky listened to the reports of unit commanders about the state of affairs in the Bakhmut area (Photo:Сухопутні війська ЗСУ/Telegram)
Ukrainian military leaders visit Bakhmut more regularly than their Russian counterparts to boost morale and adjust operational plans, journalist Andriy Tsaplienko told NV in an interview on March 6.
Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi has visited Bakhmut three times in the last 10 days. Commander of the Special Operations Forces Brigadier General Viktor Khorenko was also seen recently in the frontline town.
"Firstly, the Ukrainian command, Ukrainian generals visit the front line quite often, unlike Russian generals who avoid appearing on the front line altogether," noted Tsaplienko.
“They do visit, but not as often as Ukrainian senior officers.”
He emphasized the morale boost these visits provide soldiers.
"When soldiers see that generals are with them, they fight, realizing that their task is important, that their lives are important, and that the generals are not afraid to risk their own lives. This is very important," the journalist said.
Secondly, according to Tsaplienko, to properly plan operations, generals need to see everything with their own eyes.
"When you see the situation on a map, it's one thing, but if you see the situation when the enemy is 700 meters away, it's a completely different feeling," the reporter said.
According to him, this is the only way for generals to understand the problems that soldiers face.
"You see their readiness," said Tsaplienko. “You see the factors that are usually included in the military calculation, such as the number of troops and armored vehicles, but does not reflect combat readiness, motivation, military mindset, and cohesion.”
“These are all factors that you can only see when you are directly in the hot spot. That's why our generals travel there so often.”
Colonel General Syrskyi visited the units defending Bakhmut and the outskirts of the Donbas town on March 5. While there, he said that the fighting had reached the highest level of intensity.
Previously, Syrskyi visited Bakhmut on March 3 and Feb. 25.
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