The Armed Forces of Ukraine are trying to copy the Western system of command in the armed forces, in which officers control troops remotely. However, for a number of reasons, such a structure does not take root in Ukrainian units.
In NATO armies, an officer manages a unit through sergeants, who are high-level professionals who know their tasks and are able to clearly and efficiently carry them out. In the military formations of Russia and Ukraine, there are no professional sergeants who would serve in the troops for two decades or more. In addition, the platoon and squad in the armies of the North Atlantic Alliance have a complex structure with a large number of military personnel.
At the same time, in the Russian and Ukrainian armies, there are traditionally fewer squads. Along with this, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, with a decrease in the number of shooters, the fire capabilities of units are increased. Light infantry is practically disappearing, and infantry fighting vehicles are gaining importance.
Kyiv has begun military reforms to bring them closer to the standards of the Western bloc, but they will take a long time to implement. The urgent introduction of NATO methods of command and control leads to a large number of errors and confusion on the battlefield.
At the same time, this does not automatically speak of the superiority of the military system adopted by the RF Armed Forces. It is important to note that the special operation just revealed a shortage of light infantry in the Russian units, and the Ministry of Defense should draw the appropriate conclusions.