Intelligence officer highlights major command issues in Ukraine’s military strategy
A Ukrainian military intelligence officer, known by the call sign “Pilgrim,” highlighted key issues in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' command structure during an interview with Radio NV on Jan. 3.
“In the past, decisions were made at the level of small-unit commanders—platoons, companies, and battalions,” Pilgrim said. “Meanwhile, Russians received orders from their General Staff, which were passed down to divisions and lower levels, and they had to follow them regardless of battlefield conditions.”
He explained that Ukrainian commanders previously operated more independently, adapting to battlefield realities while working toward larger objectives.
“If we couldn’t achieve a goal, we never just charged forward. We’d pull back, regroup, analyze mistakes, and figure out what needed fixing before moving forward again,” Pilgrim added.
However, he warned that Ukraine has recently reverted to Soviet-style military tactics, which he described as highly problematic.
Training shortfalls and command challenges
Pilgrim emphasized that serious management problems exist at the platoon and company commander levels.
He pointed out that Ukraine’s traditional officer training programs can’t operate effectively during wartime, leaving gaps in leadership.
“We need officers right now—actually, we needed them yesterday,” he said. “Junior officers are being promoted from the ranks. A soldier or sergeant who performs well is sent to a fast-track course, lasting up to three months. After that, they become junior lieutenants and lead platoons.”
Pilgrim warned that while some of these soldiers excel in combat, commanding troops requires a much broader skillset.
“You can be a great fighter, leading your team in assaults, but managing personnel is a completely different job,”he said. “Military leadership requires extensive knowledge, and unfortunately, young officers just aren’t getting it right now. It’s not their fault—they’re learning as they go.”
He added that similar issues persist at higher levels, including battalion commanders and beyond.
“We’re seeing rapid rotations because of command failures—orders from the top aren’t always followed, and officers are being removed or replaced,” Pilgrim said. “The problem is that many brigade commanders today were just senior lieutenants or company commanders back in 2014–2015. They’re learning on the fly, and that’s creating massive issues in mid-level management.”
Defense Ministry reviews army command structure
On Dec. 2, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that Ukraine’s Defense Ministry would conduct a comprehensive review of the Army’s command system and personnel policies as part of broader reforms.
The Ukrainian military’s management has faced repeated criticism.
Yuriy Butusov, editor-in-chief of Censor.NET, has argued that Ukraine’s operational-tactical management is fragmented. He noted that while operational commands direct troop movements, personnel management falls under separate structures, and Ukraine lacks divisions and armies as organizational levels.
“In the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, every European army at war developed operational and strategic command structures—coordinated units, divisions, and army corps,” Butusov said in an interview with Radio NV.
“This structure is essential for effective command, coordination, and, most importantly, accountability among senior officers and generals for specific sectors of the front. Ukraine, however, hasn’t done this. We’re the only country in the last three centuries to mobilize a million-strong army without establishing division- or corps-level structures.”
Butusov blamed this on “complete ignorance,” a lack of effort to study or analyze the situation, and “an unwillingness to implement basic organizational reforms.”
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