Oleksandr Shyrshin, who previously led the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade ‘Magura’, revealed details of military operations that took place in the spring of 2025 and explained the reasons for his criticism of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This is reported by Finway
Spring 2025 Operations: Challenges and Risks
During this period, Ukrainian units left the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region and attempted to halt the advance of Russian troops into Ukrainian territory. Shyrshin emphasized that his battalion repeatedly received orders to infiltrate the enemy’s rear without adequate forces, resources, and proper logistics. According to the former commander, it was clear from the planning stage that such operations were doomed to fail.
“We repeatedly received tasks to send people into the enemy’s rear, while lacking sufficient forces, resources, and logistics. And even at the planning stage, it was clear that the task was doomed to fail,” Shyrshin asserts.
Shyrshin noted that due to inadequate orders from higher command, his subordinates frequently found themselves surrounded. During offensive actions, the military had to move through open areas, and these routes eventually became known to the enemy. Despite official requests for the expansion of corridors or the creation of safe passages, the command did not respond appropriately. As a result, the unit suffered losses and was unable to evacuate the wounded or replace personnel at the front. According to the former commander, despite orders to continue the operation, he planned to organize a withdrawal, but did not have time to implement this plan.
Public Criticism and Response from the General Staff
In March 2026, Oleksandr Shyrshin stated that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted to retroactively accuse him of abandoning his unit while undergoing treatment. At the same time, the General Staff did not officially comment on these accusations.
In August 2025, Shyrshin announced his dismissal from the position of battalion commander. Back in May of that year, he publicly criticized the command on social media for issuing unjustified combat orders and the unwarranted losses of personnel. In response to the military’s statements, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine created a special working group to thoroughly investigate the circumstances outlined in Shyrshin’s publications regarding the command’s actions during combat missions.