- Zelensky announces a reduction in bureaucracy in the military
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Announces Military Bureaucracy Reduction After Over Two Years of Fighting Russian Invasion
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to streamline bureaucracy within the military after more than two years of fighting against the Russian invasion. "We are preparing new, fully modern solutions for our fighters that will definitely eliminate a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork in the units," Zelensky said in his evening video address from Kyiv. He made the announcement following a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Defense and promised that these innovative decisions would be revealed to the public soon, without providing further details.
Zelensky also received an update on the frontline situation from the Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The heaviest fighting is currently taking place in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, where a reinforced response is needed against Russian occupiers, Zelensky said. Despite Russian assaults, soldiers are holding their ground and ensuring the safety of the entire eastern part of the country. Defense efforts are also ongoing in the Kharkiv region and other parts.
Zelensky also mentioned that he had discussed the construction of new corvettes with Defense Minister Rustem Ummerov.
Second Ukrainian Corvette Launched in Turkey
Earlier, a second corvette of the same type was launched in Turkey. "We know better than anyone how important security is, and this corvette will be a symbol of security for our entire region," said Olena Zelenska, the Ukrainian president's wife, at the ceremony in Istanbul, according to a statement.
Named "Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky" in March, the ship follows the corvette "Hetman Ivan Mazepa," which was launched in October 2022. The Ukrainian Navy is currently conducting sea trials with the ship.
Both corvettes were ordered in 2020, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Equipped with modern stealth technology, these coastal defense ships were ordered from Turkey due to the Ukrainian shipbuilding industry's backwardness. Originally, the final assembly was supposed to take place in Ukrainian shipyards, but this is currently not possible due to the war. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Ummerov and Navy Commander Oleksiy Neizhpapa also attended the corvette launch ceremony.
Ukrainian Navy Also Bets on Drones Against Russian Ships
The Ukrainian Navy now only has smaller ships and boats left. Its flagship, the frigate "Hetman Sahaydachny," was sunk shortly after the start of the war near the port city of Mykolaiv to prevent it from falling into Russian hands. Fighting took place just a few kilometers from the city border in 2022. However, the use of sea drones against the Russian fleet has significantly reduced the importance of warships.
Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for more than two years. Fighting also takes place regularly in the waters of the Black Sea. Russia's Black Sea Fleet has suffered numerous losses in this process.
The European Union could potentially provide additional aid and support to Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression. The strengthening of the Ukrainian military through international cooperation could further reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies within the armed forces.
