Ukrainian platoon begs army chief for supplies after months stuck on front line
A unit of the 121st Territorial Defence Brigade filmed a plea to army chief Mykhailo Drapaty, saying they had gone without food or water for weeks while trapped on the front.
Members of Ukraine’s 121st Territorial Defence Brigade released a video on August 11 addressed to army chief Mykhailo Drapaty, describing months of abandonment on a frontline position. Commander Anatoliy Saichuk said the platoon was left in a makeshift shelter after their defensive lines were destroyed, receiving no food or water for periods ranging from three to seven days, and once going twelve days without water. He alleged senior officers misled families by claiming the troops were fully supplied and that drone deliveries failed to materialize.
The brigade verified the video’s authenticity on Facebook and pledged to take “all necessary measures” to supply the soldiers amid “extremely difficult” conditions. The South joint forces group, which oversees the area, responded that the clip shows only an isolated fragment of a broader, dynamic operational environment. Ukraine’s army has long struggled to rotate front-line units, and the increasing presence of combat drones has further complicated resupply efforts.
Why it matters
It highlights severe supply failures affecting Ukrainian troops, raising concerns about frontline sustainability and morale.
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