Reflections of a Battalion Commander: supporting my unit on the front line

I hesitated about whether to write this, but I will after all. I want to apologize to my unit—I’m not much of a commander.

Everyone who knows us is aware that we often handled our own issues, using our own funds. It was simpler, more efficient, and faster that way. Usually, around 60% of the hundred we received would go toward our needs: buying necessary equipment, ammunition, vehicle repairs, living essentials, building dugouts, and so on. So we never really complained about how hard things were.

But now we’re not in Donbas. The war here is different. It’s a bit easier, yet it’s still war—with constant attacks, constant shelling, and losses. And our job remains the same: destroy the enemy.

And to our surprise, our specific section of the front (our neighbor to the right is fully recognized) isn’t considered a combat zone on some map, which means the fighters can’t receive their hundred.

I spent all of yesterday in shock, trying to process this information and realizing I would have to break it to my soldiers, seeing the disbelief on their faces.

Then you wonder how officials manage to raise their salaries to 250,000-300,000 and beyond. They must have it tougher than the fighters on the front and fewer problems, right?

I’m reminded of the video from Battalion Commander K2, Kyrylo, who said, “What kind of commander would I be if my soldiers couldn’t even get this pittance?” Because a hundred these days, with our needs and lack of support, is a pittance. So, I’m probably a bad commander, and that makes me feel miserable and disgusted. And I wonder how those who determine combat zones actually make these decisions.

P.S. Here’s a short video of our battalion at work (not in a combat zone 😂😫).

P.S. I’ll write later (awaiting answers and decisions) about how Kharkiv authorities are assisting and communicating with the units defending the region.

Sergiy Varakin

Tags: Analytics armed forces Opinion russia ukraine war Ukraine