Commander “Magura” Oleksandr Shyrshyn explained the motivation behind his public statement, which sparked many discussions among military personnel and the public
According to him, the decision to address the open space was driven by the fact that a series of his official and unofficial appeals to leadership went unanswered, creating a tense crisis situation and risks for personnel. In his public statement, posted on Facebook, the commander of the 4th Battalion Tactical Group "Magura" emphasized that during combat missions in Kursk and along the Ukrainian-Russian border, he encountered numerous problems that threatened the lives and health of his subordinates. "I faced situations that had all the signs of being doomed to failure, and certain decisions could have led to unjustified casualties. Moreover, this happened more than once and without considering the previous tragic experience that could have warned of negative consequences," he noted. According to Shyrshyn, he made every effort to communicate his concerns to the command—by making official and unofficial appeals in various formats and at different levels. However, most of these were ignored. This, in his view, prompted him to take an open step and speak publicly. "I want our management system to be more flexible and capable of adequately assessing the real situation on the ground, so that military personnel have opportunities and rights for quick responses and effective problem-solving," he firmly stated. The commander explicitly denies any intentions to undermine leadership or demand his resignation. "I did not call for a change in leadership, nor did I announce a desire to leave my position or dismiss the authorities. My remarks are a systematic critique aimed at improving the situation. My position is about maintaining the combat readiness of our unit and the lives of our soldiers," he underscored. At the same time, Shyrshyn expressed outrage concerning the reactions of some loyal military structures, which, according to him, began accusing, defaming, and calling to support the command. He also pointed out that his unit has always operated in difficult and highly responsible sectors, and his soldiers have never complained; their achievements and heroic deeds have been repeatedly featured in the media and in statements by the President of Ukraine. "My soldiers are real heroes who have spared no effort and health to hold our positions and repel enemy attacks. They have cleared mine traps, held defenses under fire, and fought for every meter of Ukrainian land. They are snipers, grenade launcher operators, scouts, medics, sappers, and logistical personnel—all doing their duty in the most challenging conditions," described the commander. However, there is a sense of anxiety in his account — regarding the fact that in recent months, his battalion is supposedly being "attempted to be erased," which causes him particular pain and disappointment. "This directly concerns our combat capability and the lives of our soldiers. That is why I decided to speak publicly—to draw attention to the issues that are ignored and to advocate for negotiations with the leadership," he emphasized. Regarding the current situation, Shyrshyn reported that since his open statement, contacts and discussions have already begun with the General Staff. He hopes that constructive solutions and a common approach will be found to resolve the crisis and prevent similar situations in the future. It is worth noting that this situation is just one of the recent examples of internal conflicts and misunderstandings within the Ukrainian military, which unexpectedly went public. Commander "Magura" Oleksandr Shyrshyn, known for his frankness and desire for change, has become perhaps the most prominent representative of those who dared to openly speak about critical problems in the military system, which was heading toward a full-scale war and remains at the center of public and military leadership attention.