Frontline Deployment Exceeding 40 Days Affects Morale, Ukrainian Military Plans to Adjust Rotation Mechanism
Ukraine's military ombudsman, Olha Reshetylova, stated that prolonged frontline deployment negatively impacts soldiers' psychological state and command effectiveness. Preliminary studies show that soldiers may become indifferent to life and death after more than 40 days on the frontline, leading to a proposal to adjust the rotation mechanism.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 21:33
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Yen-ting, Kyiv, 30th) Ukraine's military ombudsman, Olha Reshetylova, recently stated that prolonged combat for frontline soldiers may affect their psychological state and command effectiveness. Preliminary studies show that after soldiers are deployed on the frontline for more than 40 days, they may gradually develop indifference to life and death. A Hong Kong volunteer serving in Ukraine also pointed out that long-term frontline deployment easily leads to psychological numbness.
Reshetylova (Olha Reshetylova) recently stated in an exclusive interview with "Ukrainska Pravda" that according to the current order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the maximum duration for military personnel on the frontline is 15 days, but due to troop shortages, relevant regulations are difficult to implement.
She stated that this regulation is practically a dead letter, leading to almost unrestricted frontline deployment. "Some commanders even failed to properly fulfill their duties, leaving soldiers in underground shelters, bunkers, and other frontline strongholds for a year or even longer, while being semi-surrounded by the enemy."
Reshetylova pointed out that her office is conducting a large-scale study on the psychological state of frontline soldiers. Preliminary results show that after soldiers stay on the frontline for more than 40 days, their combat will and risk perception may decrease, which in turn affects their operational performance. She has begun drafting recommendations to propose adjustments to the frontline rotation mechanism to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Reshetylova as the military ombudsman in October 2025. Her office has been operating since January 27, 2026, and has received nearly 5,500 complaints, of which 1,170 are under review. Reshetylova stated that after receiving a case, an initial review will be conducted within 3 to 10 days according to legal provisions, and depending on the situation, additional documents may be requested, involved commanders interviewed, and investigations or mediation initiated.
"Qiuma," a 30-year-old volunteer from Hong Kong, stated that due to increased frontline risks, his mission duration was extended from the original 5 days to over 80 days. He pointed out that while prolonged exposure to the frontline environment may not immediately lead to suicidal thoughts, psychological numbness indeed exists.
He further explained that frontline strongholds are often located in remote areas, making it easy for small teams to be isolated. Long-term cohabitation can also lead to friction, and limited communication means that information often relies on word-of-mouth, which can easily lead to misinformation or even panic. Many soldiers do not fully describe the actual situation to their families, which also increases family worries. He believes that establishing a complaint mechanism can help improve related problems.
"Ukrainska Pravda" also reported that the Ukrainian military recently replaced relevant commanders of the 14th Brigade and the 10th Corps due to some commanders concealing the actual frontline situation, including failing to provide sufficient food and water to frontline soldiers for 8 months under foreseeable circumstances. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150430
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Yen-ting, Kyiv, 30th) Ukraine's military ombudsman, Olha Reshetylova, recently stated that prolonged combat for frontline soldiers may affect their psychological state and command effectiveness. Preliminary studies show that after soldiers are deployed on the frontline for more than 40 days, they may gradually develop indifference to life and death. A Hong Kong volunteer serving in Ukraine also pointed out that long-term frontline deployment easily leads to psychological numbness.
Reshetylova (Olha Reshetylova) recently stated in an exclusive interview with "Ukrainska Pravda" that according to the current order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the maximum duration for military personnel on the frontline is 15 days, but due to troop shortages, relevant regulations are difficult to implement.
She stated that this regulation is practically a dead letter, leading to almost unrestricted frontline deployment. "Some commanders even failed to properly fulfill their duties, leaving soldiers in underground shelters, bunkers, and other frontline strongholds for a year or even longer, while being semi-surrounded by the enemy."
Reshetylova pointed out that her office is conducting a large-scale study on the psychological state of frontline soldiers. Preliminary results show that after soldiers stay on the frontline for more than 40 days, their combat will and risk perception may decrease, which in turn affects their operational performance. She has begun drafting recommendations to propose adjustments to the frontline rotation mechanism to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Reshetylova as the military ombudsman in October 2025. Her office has been operating since January 27, 2026, and has received nearly 5,500 complaints, of which 1,170 are under review. Reshetylova stated that after receiving a case, an initial review will be conducted within 3 to 10 days according to legal provisions, and depending on the situation, additional documents may be requested, involved commanders interviewed, and investigations or mediation initiated.
"Qiuma," a 30-year-old volunteer from Hong Kong, stated that due to increased frontline risks, his mission duration was extended from the original 5 days to over 80 days. He pointed out that while prolonged exposure to the frontline environment may not immediately lead to suicidal thoughts, psychological numbness indeed exists.
He further explained that frontline strongholds are often located in remote areas, making it easy for small teams to be isolated. Long-term cohabitation can also lead to friction, and limited communication means that information often relies on word-of-mouth, which can easily lead to misinformation or even panic. Many soldiers do not fully describe the actual situation to their families, which also increases family worries. He believes that establishing a complaint mechanism can help improve related problems.
"Ukrainska Pravda" also reported that the Ukrainian military recently replaced relevant commanders of the 14th Brigade and the 10th Corps due to some commanders concealing the actual frontline situation, including failing to provide sufficient food and water to frontline soldiers for 8 months under foreseeable circumstances. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150430
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.