Ukraine Admits Supply Failures on Kupiansk Front, Orders Command Shake-Up After Photos of Starving Troops Go Viral

The statement comes after widely shared images of emaciated troops from the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade sparked a strong public backlash. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Photo collage reportedly showing starving troops from the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of Ukraine’s 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade. (i.petrovna / Threads) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Days after images of starving Ukrainian soldiers spread widely online, Ukraine’s military has acknowledged serious logistical breakdowns on the Kupiansk front – and removed senior commanders following an internal review. In a statement issued on Friday , the General Staff said that Russian strikes on crossings over the Oskil River have “significantly complicated” the supply of Ukrainian forces operating near the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The admission follows the widely shared images of emaciated troops from the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which triggered a swift response from the Ministry of Defense on Thursday. “Systematic enemy air and missile strikes on crossings over the Oskil River have significantly complicated the logistical support of Defense Forces units in the area,” the General Staff said. According to officials, troops in the area are now being supplied by watercraft and heavy drones – a risky and limited workaround as Russian forces continue to target supply routes. Command says it is also moving to reinforce air defenses, expand electronic warfare capabilities, and improve counter-drone protection in the sector. “In these difficult conditions, special attention is being paid to supplying our servicemen carrying out tasks on the front line,” the statement added. Other Topics of Interest Russian Overnight Attack Hits Residential Buildings in Odesa, Injuring Three Local authorities said Russian forces struck several residential buildings, including two two-story houses and one three-story building, while one woman was hospitalized. But alongside the external pressure, the military has also pointed to internal failures. The General Staff said the command of the 14th Brigade failed to accurately report the situation on the ground, contributing to the loss of positions and errors in troop support. It also confirmed food supply problems at one position – echoing earlier reports that soldiers had gone up to 17 days without adequate food or water. As a result, the commander of the 14th Brigade has been dismissed, while the commander of the 10th Army Corps has been demoted. An investigation is ongoing. “The new command of the brigade and corps is taking all possible measures to stabilize the situation and restore proper supply for servicemen at combat positions,” the General Staff said. The Kupiansk axis remains one of the most contested sectors of the front, with Ukrainian forces under constant pressure from repeated Russian assaults. Military officials point to the deployment of Russia’s elite “Rubikon” UAV unit, tasked specifically with disrupting logistics. Drones are reportedly striking supply vehicles at extremely high frequency, turning resupply runs into near-continuous high-risk operations. Alisa is the Head of News and a correspondent at Kyiv Post, where she leads the newsroom’s coverage of breaking events and global developments.  With over seven years of experience in TV journalism, Alisa has reported on international and Ukrainian politics, making complex stories easier to understand. Back in September 2022, Alisa joined the Kyiv Post team.