121st Brigade soldiers report shortages of food, water at positions, command vows to evacuate them when 'security situation allows'

Soldiers from Ukraine's 121st Territorial Defense Brigade in Zaporizhzhia Oblast have reported shortages of food and water at their positions, while their command has vowed to evacuate them when the security situation permits. The heavy presence of drones has made movement dangerous, forcing soldiers to stay in their foxholes for months on end.

The soldiers posted an appeal on Facebook on August 9, detailing their grievances. Platoon Commander Anatolii Syshchuk stated that his unit arrived in April to relieve troops who had been stationed for eight months without rotation, with an initial deployment expected to last only one month. Food and water deliveries were unreliable, with some days seeing no delivery for weeks.

The soldiers' supply chain was so unreliable that they were in a semi-conscious state, according to Syshchuk. Syshchuk chose to withdraw his troops without waiting for reinforcements, citing lack of strength and means to remain. He pleaded for safe passage and transportation for evacuation, addressing Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.

The 121st Brigade claimed that supplies were being delivered to hard-to-reach positions according to schedule, but adverse weather and Russian forces affected delivery times. Operational Command South affirmed that the soldiers would be rotated once conditions allowed, without providing a timeline. Despite the brigade delivering about 240 kilograms of food to the brigade's positions over 30 days, Syshchuk's sister noted that the actual amount may have been less.

Ukrainian soldiers are often punished for their roles in holding the front line, but accountability for their welfare remains lacking, according to her.