Sixteen Ukrainian servicemen deserted over a week as the army command extended the period between troops rotation in the zone of the so-called Joint Forces Operation due to a shortage of manpower, Lugansk People’s Republic People’s Militia spokesman Ivan Filiponenko said at a press briefing.
“The Ukrainian army General Staff is thinking of extending the period of troops presence in the zone of the punitive operation from six to nine months, in connection with staffing problems at the units sent to the JFO zone,” Filiponenko said.
“For example, gunmen of 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade who have been in the JFO zone since March, are very indignant and demoralized by the rumors about larger rotation periods, especially those who have six-months contracts. On top of that, 57th Brigade has major staffing problems. Sixteen people, mostly drivers, irked by non-payment of combat allowance and reluctant to prolong the contract, left the Brigade without permission,” the spokesman said.
Earlier, Filiponenko said that almost 30 Ukrainian servicemen had deserted the JFO zone since September in connection with poor provision of due allowances and lack of discipline.
The Ukrainian government launched the so-called anti-terrorist operation against Donbass in April 2014. Conflict settlement relies on the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, signed on February 12, 2015 in the Belarussian capital by the Contact Group members and coordinated by the Normandy Four heads of states (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine). The document provides for ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line.*i*r
