Former Commander of 'Magura' Alexander Shirshin Reveals Details of Critical Orders from Command

In the spring of 2025, as Ukrainian troops faced the daunting task of holding back the advancing Russian army, they encountered severe challenges stemming from inadequate commands from higher authorities. Alexander Shirshin, the former commander of the 47th 'Magura' Brigade, shared these insights in an interview with Vlasty Lazur of Radio Liberty.

Shirshin explained that Ukrainian forces were collaborating with the 425th regiment, which was tasked with storming a specific settlement before advancing to the next. 'They sent… if I’m not mistaken, four squads. About 20 people. This is a small group to storm a settlement where there was at least a battalion,' he noted. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Ukrainian forces were entering territory located approximately five kilometers beyond the frontline, necessitating the organization of medical support, rotation, and replacement of troops.

The former commander emphasized that many of the planned operations were impossible to execute under the received orders. 'People were just entering the field, going in at random. They entered once, they weren’t noticed; they entered twice – still not noticed. On the third time, it became known, and the routes were blocked,' Shirshin recounted. He also mentioned that he attempted to reach out to command, requesting the expansion of corridors or the establishment of a safe passage for troops, but these proposals were disregarded.

'I wrote, I officially appealed, saying that we need to take such and such measures, expand the corridors, or create a safe passage. In general, I detailed all the points that we needed to implement for this operation to be successful and for us to be able to support our people who are at the forefront,' Shirshin stressed. Unfortunately, the situation at the front continued to worsen, and Ukrainian forces began to suffer casualties. 'There were constant assaults from various sides, and we couldn’t change, we couldn’t provide medical assistance. And you say that people need to be evacuated; they will die. To which I was yelled at that the general said it was not allowed, and we continue,' he recalled.

Despite the order to continue the operation, Shirshin planned a withdrawal and attempted to extract his men from their positions, but he was unable to do so in time. In May 2025, he publicly accused the command of issuing 'stupid tasks' and causing unjustified loss of life in Kursk, subsequently submitting a report requesting his removal from the position. In response to these accusations, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine established a working group to investigate the circumstances outlined in Shirshin's publication, promising to make 'appropriate decisions' based on the results of the inquiry.

Following this, commanders from several units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reacted to the report from the commander of the 47th 'Magura' Brigade, Alexander Shirshin, who submitted it due to the 'stupid tasks.' The position of the commander was criticized, indicating tension within the military hierarchy. On August 14, 2025, Alexander Shirshin stepped down from his position as commander of the 47th 'Magura' Brigade, marking yet another indication of the challenging circumstances faced by Ukrainian military forces amid the ongoing war.