Ukraine's Marine Corps Receives Equipment Last, Warns Commander Volynskyi.

Commander 'Volyna' Raises Alarm Over State of Ukraine's Marine Corps

According to TSN.ua: Serhii Volynskyi, a commander known by the call sign 'Volyna', has voiced serious concerns about the unfair distribution of financial support and the critical shortage of equipment within Ukraine's Marine Corps. He stressed that since 2014, the state has failed to develop a clear vision for this branch of the armed forces, severely undermining its effectiveness. The Marine Corps is a vital component of Ukraine's coastal and amphibious defense, making these issues a direct threat to national security.

Volynskyi highlighted a stark pay disparity to illustrate the funding imbalance:

• A serviceman in the Special Operations Forces receives 40,000 hryvnias,
• while a serviceman in a reconnaissance battalion earns 20,000.

This salary gap points to an uneven approach to financing different military units. He further emphasized that since 2014, the Marine Corps has consistently been last in line to receive weapons and equipment, a practice that critically compromises their combat readiness.

Until 2018, marine battalions were forced to carry out missions in Humvees that lacked sufficient armor. Only after 2018 did newer equipment, such as BMPs, BMP-1s, BMP-2s, and BTRs, begin to appear. However, according to Volynskyi, the strategic role of the Marine Corps within Ukraine's overall military doctrine remains undefined.

'Many things were not done then and are not done today,' noted Serhii Volynskyi.

The military commander also stressed that 'we preserved the branch of service itself, but we have not learned how to employ these troops for their intended purpose.'

The problems facing the Marine Corps are a source of alarm not only within the military but also for the wider public, as the effectiveness of this branch is crucial for Ukraine's national security.

Serhii Volynskyi's warnings point to deep-seated, systemic issues within Ukraine's military structure that require urgent resolution. Inadequate funding and the absence of a clear development strategy could severely impact the Marine Corps's preparedness for combat missions, thereby endangering the nation's security. The situation demands immediate state attention to ensure the effectiveness and combat capability of this critical military branch.