**Ukrainian Air Force Specialists Protected from Front-Line Duty**
Highly-trained Air Force specialists are not being transferred to front-line infantry units, said Commander–in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on January 19.
Reports last week suggested that thousands of Air Force soldiers had been transferred to the Ground Forces since 2024. Videos taken by Air Force personnel themselves surfaced, claiming their transfer was a challenge that could weaken Ukraine’s aviation.
The General Staff of Ukraine‘s Armed Forces said the transfer of some personnel is necessary to strengthen defense by reinforcing combat brigades with soldiers from other branches of the Armed Forces. However, they stressed that high-tech specialists and those trained abroad on foreign models of weapons and equipment are not being transferred.
**Commander-in-Chief Makes Clear**
“I have an order prohibiting the transfer of highly qualified personnel who have undergone training and specialize in aircraft maintenance,” Syrskyi said in an interview with journalist Andriy Tsaplienko. These specialists, he added, are “practically irreplaceable.”
However, in a separate interview with Ukrainian news outlet TSN on January 19, Syrskyi acknowledged that current mobilization efforts are not sufficient to meet the needs of the armed forces.
**Mobilization Efforts Insufficient**
Fighting has intensified in Eastern Ukraine as Ukraine and Russia try to gain the upper hand in potential upcoming peace negotiations. The Commander-in-Chief said that mobilization does not cover demand from the front line, adding, “We have needs at the front. We must increase the number of personnel in our mechanized brigades.”
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