If the introduction of the corps command system in the Armed Forces of Ukraine helps reduce bureaucracy, it should be implemented. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a press briefing at the Third International Grain from Ukraine Conference on Food Security.
“This is for the military to decide. If the corps system they are proposing shortens the distance between the general and the soldier and reduces bureaucracy, they should proceed. Let them do whatever is necessary to simplify and streamline the system,” Zelenskiy said.
The President emphasized that minimizing bureaucracy within the army is a priority. This responsibility lies particularly with the Commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
“An officer must see the soldier. A general who has never been in a trench is not a general to me personally, despite his experience. With all due respect, the hardest conditions are on the front line, in the trenches,” Zelenskiy stated.
He underscored the importance of direct communication with soldiers, not just discussions at headquarters.
“That’s why Syrskyi is constantly at the front, traveling to the combat zones. We speak daily, twice a day, during his morning and evening reports. But even this is not enough. Generals need to be in the trenches. That’s the nature of this war. The morale of our soldiers is the most critical factor,” Zelenskiy stressed.
Putin’s Strategy in the Kursk Region
Zelenskiy also commented on Russia’s current military objectives, stating that Vladimir Putin’s primary goal is to force Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region by 20 January.
“It is vital for him to show he has control over the situation. But he doesn’t. The Kursk operation is not a game. We’ve demonstrated that Putin cannot fully defend his own state. He has devoted everything to the occupation and destruction of Ukraine,” the President noted.
The Russian dictator is also attempting to achieve his stated goal of occupying the entire Donbas.
“This is why we see the corresponding challenges. Yes, the situation in the East is difficult. Yes, there is an insufficient number of troops in some areas. The reasons vary, including delays in supplies. But we are there. We are defending our homeland. And in the Kursk direction, Putin’s losses are unprecedented,” Zelenskiy explained.