Commander of the 47th Brigade Shirshin Resigns Amid Criticism of Ukrainian Command
Olexander Shirshin, the battalion commander of Ukraine’s 47th mechanized brigade, who previously voiced sharp criticism of military leadership over unjustified losses and questionable decisions, has officially stepped down from his position.
In a Facebook post, he announced that it was time to hand over responsibilities to new leadership and focus on further service under challenging conditions.
Shirshin emphasized that his public criticism aimed to shed light on systemic issues within command decisions, which he believed contributed to unnecessary casualties.
He expressed pride in his soldiers and their resilience, stating that despite ongoing investigations and attempts to find those responsible for the high casualties, the troops remain committed to moving forward and achieving victory for an independent Ukraine.
He was appointed commander of the battalion in July 2024, and since autumn of last year, his unit has been conducting active combat operations in the Kursk region.
At the end of May, he submitted a report accusing command of nonsensical assignments and unjustified human losses.
In response, the Ukrainian General Staff formed a working group to investigate these allegations.
Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov regarded this incident as significant for both society and the military, pointing out that drone footage from Russian sources confirms Shirshin’s claims.
Despite an official review, he received reprimands for publicly criticizing the leadership, highlighting internal tensions within Ukraine’s armed forces.