A serious scandal has erupted in Ukraine after several photos posted on social media show severely weakened soldiers on the front line due to a lack of food and water. The images were published by the wife of one of the soldiers, revealing their dire condition after months in harsh circumstances. In the photos, four soldiers appear pale-faced, malnourished, and underweight. "When they arrived at the front line, they weighed over 80-90 kg. But now they weigh around 50 kg," the soldier's wife wrote alongside the photo.
According to family testimonies, the soldiers had been stationed on the front line near Kupiansk in northeastern Ukraine for about eight months, defending a dangerous area. Food and medicine supplies, they said, were very limited and often absent for days at a time. One of the most severe cases, according to relatives, involved going up to 17 days without food. The soldiers were forced to drink rainwater or melt snow to survive.
Following the publication of these images, Ukrainian authorities responded by dismissing the commander responsible for logistics and troop supplies. The General Staff confirmed that a new commander has been appointed and an investigation into the case has been launched. The military acknowledged serious logistical problems, emphasizing that supplies in that area are extremely difficult due to proximity to Russian forces. According to a spokesperson, deliveries are mainly carried out by drones, as any movement on the ground is dangerous.
Meanwhile, relatives report that the situation has begun to improve after the authorities' intervention. The soldiers have received supplies and food, albeit in limited quantities. They are calling for troop rotation and for the exhausted soldiers to receive medical treatment as soon as possible. Ukrainian authorities have stated that, if conditions permit, the evacuation of soldiers from the danger zone will also be carried out.