Talk of a truce demotivates the army and undermines its combat capability: Andriy Biletskyi
In Ukraine, both civilians and military are looking forward to the end of the war every day. Everyone is trying to predict the date of victory, listening carefully to the forecasts of politicians, experts and the military. This desire for peace unites society, but according to the commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, Andrii Biletskyi, the constant talk of a possible truce has a downside. They can negatively affect the combat capability of the Ukrainian army. Biletskyi believes that such expectations form the wrong motivation among the military and can even undermine determination on the front lines.
During an interview with Nataliya Moseichuk, Andriy Biletskyi expressed concern about how frequent talks about a ceasefire affect soldiers at the front. He emphasized that the expectation of a quick peace prompts many soldiers to avoid risks in order to “live” until the conditional end of the war.
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Biletskyi describes a typical situation: a fighter who volunteered in February 2022, went through many trials, was wounded, lost comrades and may have been promoted to sergeant. And now he hears constant talk that the war could end in just a few weeks. This makes him think:
“Is it worth risking your life now, if the truce is close?”.
Biletsky emphasizes that such a situation negatively affects the morale of the officers who make decisions. When the prospect of peace seems achievable, the military begins to focus not on victory, but on “waiting out” this difficult period. According to him, this behavior is similar to the attitude of the heroes of stories who think:
“We would like to stand still for a day and hold out for a night.”
He also draws attention to the fact that many officers, due to such attitudes, plan their actions in the short term, focusing only on “survival” until a certain date. This robs them of the ability to make strategic decisions and make the long-term plans necessary to achieve real victory.
Biletsky notes that the impact of peace talks is not limited to the individual decisions of the fighters. This creates a general atmosphere in the army, where the main goal is not to perform a combat mission, but to “make it to the end.” This can lead to a reduction in the effectiveness of operations, a loss of initiative at the front, and a general weakening of morale.
He warns that such an approach carries a risk for the entire campaign. If commanders and soldiers begin to plan only for the short term, hoping for a quick end to the war, they risk losing combat readiness. War requires not only determination, but also clear, well-thought-out actions based on realistic assessments, and not on illusions about a quick peace.
Andriy Biletsky believes that talks about a truce and attempts to predict a quick end to the war are dangerous. They undermine the determination of soldiers, affect the morale of officers and reduce the effectiveness of the Ukrainian army. Instead of illusions about a quick peace, Ukraine should focus on stability, long-term preparation and consistent struggle. This is the only way to achieve a real victory that will ensure peace and stability for the entire country.
