---
title: "\"Imagine what that means for the AFU\": Apostol warns of the danger of mass demobilization of experienced soldiers"
description: "Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol warned that demobilizing experienced soldiers during a full-scale war could weaken the combat capability of the AFU due to the inability to quickly replace trained personnel."
date: 2026-11-13T12:34:35.580Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/apostol-demobilization-experienced-soldiers-afu
tags: [ukraine-war, vsu, demobilization, military-policy, apostol, dshev]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Imagine what that means for the AFU": Apostol warns of the danger of mass demobilization of experienced soldiers

![Ukrainian military commander in camouflage uniform studies a strategic map at headquarters](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/apostol-demobilizatsiya-opytynh-voennyh-vsu/apostol-demobilizatsiya-opytynh-voennyh-vsu-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Apostol stated that demobilizing experienced soldiers could weaken the AFU's combat capability due to the inability to quickly replace trained personnel
- The army needs not only infantry and drone operators but also artillerymen, repairmen, and logistics specialists
- On the president's instructions, a phased dismissal of soldiers serving since 2014 and 2022 is planned by the end of 2026
- Apostol urged that the issue of demobilization be approached constructively, cautiously, and fairly

Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleh Apostol, during a meeting with journalists, made an extensive statement regarding the prospects for demobilizing experienced personnel amid the ongoing full-scale war. According to him, the dismissal of trained servicemen performing critical functions could significantly weaken the army's combat capability, as the rapid replacement of such specialists with recruits of a comparable level of training is practically impossible under current conditions.

### The problem of rapid replacement of trained personnel

Apostol emphasized that the key difficulty lies not in the number of conscripts, but in the quality and depth of training. "Imagine what it means for the Armed Forces to demobilize this trained personnel," the Air Assault Forces commander stated. According to his assessment, the army needs not only infantry and drone system operators but also artillerymen, repairmen, logistics specialists, and other trained personnel whose experience is formed over years, not a few weeks of training. It is this personnel deficit, in Apostol's view, that makes the large-scale dismissal of trained fighters premature.

### Personal experience as an argument

Answering questions about the fatigue of servicemen who have been in the combat zone for years, Apostol referred to his own experience: "I have also been at war since 2014. I understand this. But I also understand that this is a war now. But we are defending our land and our country. Every citizen must realize this." The Air Assault Forces commander acknowledged that he understands the fighters' desire to return home, but pointed out that in the context of active hostilities, the army currently lacks sufficient personnel resources for the mass dismissal of trained specialists.

### Context: the plan for phased dismissal until the end of 2026

Apostol's statement came against the background of previously released information from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, according to which, on the president's instructions, a phased dismissal of servicemen who have been in service since 2014 and 2022 is planned by the end of 2026. Thus, the issue of demobilization remains one of the most acute in the socio-political agenda: on the one hand, the state declares a course for a new social contract regarding military service, and on the other, the command of the branches of the armed forces emphasizes operational constraints associated with the impossibility of instantly replacing experienced personnel. Apostol called for approaching this issue "constructively, cautiously, and fairly," which essentially means the need for a balance between the social expectations of the personnel and the requirements of the army's operational readiness.

### What this means for future personnel policy

The position of the Air Assault Forces commander indicates that even if the phased dismissal plan is implemented by the end of 2026, the process will likely be accompanied by strict restrictions based on job categories and specialties. The priority, judging by Apostol's statements, will be given to keeping specialists in the ranks whose function cannot be promptly replicated through new recruitment. This creates an additional request for reviewing the training system and accelerating the completion of the full training cycle for recruits, as well as developing retention programs for technical and support roles where the deficit is felt most acutely.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Я тоже с 2014 года на войне": Апостол объяснил, почему сейчас сложно провести демобилизацию](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ya-tezh-iz-2014-roku-viyni-apostol-poyasniv-1794569535.html) - Direct quotes from the Commander of the Air Assault Forces Oleh Apostol, published by RBC-Ukraine. All facts and quotes in the article correspond to the text of the source. The mention of the phased discharge plan until the end of 2026 on the president's instructions is also present in the basis of the article.

## FAQ

### Who made the statement about demobilization?

The statement was made by the Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the AFU, Oleh Apostol, during a meeting with journalists.

### Why, according to Apostol, is it difficult to conduct demobilization now?

Apostol explained that the army cannot quickly replace experienced soldiers performing critical functions with recruits of a comparable level of training. The military needs not only infantry and drone operators but also artillerymen, repairmen, and support specialists.

### What is the state's plan for discharging soldiers?

According to data previously reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, on the president's instructions, a phased discharge of servicemen who have been serving since 2014 and 2022 is planned by the end of 2026.

### How many years has Apostol been involved in combat operations?

Apostol stated that he has been participating in combat operations since 2014 and referred to this personal experience, explaining that he understands the soldiers' fatigue.