Ukraine asked 1,616 soldiers what breaks them on front line. Top answer has nothing to do with Russian fire
Most Ukrainian soldiers stay effective in a frontline position for about a month, but a shortage of rotations leaves many there far longer.
Ukraine's Office of the Military Ombudsperson conducted a study of 1,616 soldiers and 174 commanders between June and July 2026 to assess the breaking points of frontline soldiers. The study found that after a month, 60% of soldiers reported signs of exhaustion, and by day 60, it was eight in ten. The primary stressor, according to 83% of the surveyed soldiers, was not Russian artillery fire but the lack of water and supplies.
Additionally, 76% of respondents cited the absence of resupply as critical. Other identified stressors included a lack of understanding of the situation, comrades killed nearby, isolation, poorly built positions, inability to leave cover, and a disconnect from commanders. The most severe consequences were seen after 180 days of deployment, with 60% requiring more than two weeks to recover and one in four soldiers never fully recovering.
The office has now drafted a "Position Assessment Protocol" to limit the duration of such deployments.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
