‘Counting Every Day’: The Soldier Who Spent More Than a Year on the Front Line

Ukrainian combat medic, Serhii Tyschenko, spent 472 consecutive days in a bunker on the front lines, highlighting a critical issue of excessively long rotations within Ukraine's military. Facing troop shortages and constant drone surveillance, soldiers are often unable to rotate out of dangerous positions. This extended deployment, as experienced by Tyschenko, can lead to severe psychological harm and decreased morale, potentially exacerbating personnel shortages through desertion or burnout. Military experts and even Tyschenko's brigade commander acknowledge the problem, emphasizing the need for scheduled rotations to prevent such extreme cases. While Tyschenko is now home near Kyiv, his experience underscores the challenges faced by Ukrainian soldiers and the urgent need for improved troop management.

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