Amid a protracted conflict, the issues of mobilization and honesty regarding casualties remain among the most acute in Ukrainian society. In an exclusive interview with RBK-Ukraine, Sergei Gnezdilov, a soldier of the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade known for his critical stance, spoke candidly about the causes of the crisis in the army. According to him, the strategy of silence and manipulation of figures, conducted at the highest level, is causing irreparable damage to morale and public trust.
Freedom of Speech as the Foundation of Survival
Gnezdilov, whose comments often spark controversy, shared his experience of confronting the military counterintelligence. As early as 2021, he faced pressure but managed to defend his right to a civic position. "Being a soldier, I do not cease to be a citizen," he emphasizes. In the soldier's opinion, military conservatism should not mean freezing democratic processes. He is convinced that freedom of speech is the foundation of Ukrainian statehood, and the silence of the authorities in critical moments effectively "kills people," creating an information vacuum that is filled by enemy propaganda.
Crisis of Trust and "Dead" Numbers
One of the main topics of the conversation was the problem of official casualty statistics. Gnezdilov sharply criticizes the strategy of silence, calling it a failure. He points out inconsistencies in the figures announced by the country's leadership: if previously the media featured a figure of 55,000 dead, and later the president stated there were 50,000 officially confirmed, the question arises: "Where did the 5,000 go? Did they come back to life?". According to the serviceman, such manipulations leave a huge field for the Russian information machine and undermine trust in the command.
Responsibility for Mobilization: Who is to Blame?
Regarding the question of who bears responsibility for failures in the mobilization system, Gnezdilov answers unequivocally: it is the President. "Exclusively the president sets the tone," he notes. The soldier believes that dismissing ministers with the argument "failed mobilization" is an attempt to save ratings and shift the focus. He emphasizes that the head of state is legally responsible for mobilization processes. Gnezdilov believes that Zelensky's silence during attacks on Territorial Recruitment and Mobilization Centers (TRMCs) was tantamount to supporting these actions, as there was no statement about radical protection of the military.
"Busification" and the Role of the Police
Special attention in the interview was paid to the problem of so-called "busification" — the detention of civilians in balaclavas without identification marks. Gnezdilov calls this a "nonsense" and asserts that military personnel should not engage in this work. In his opinion, this is the task of the National Police. However, due to fear of public resonance, the police refused these functions, passing them on to the military. The result is a system that, in the eyes of the international community, turns Ukraine from a "fighter for truth" into a "monster with bloody tentacles".
The Drone Illusion and Reality
To conclude the conversation, Gnezdilov touched upon the popular thesis that "drones should fight." He calls this an illusion that only increases the need for people rather than reducing it. The reality is that without a living person capable of making decisions and acting in non-standard situations, even the most advanced technologies cannot replace the army. Gnezdilov calls on society to have an honest conversation: people do not want mobilization at any cost, but they want to understand what and how they are fighting, and to see honesty from their leaders.
