Ukrainian air force specialists to be protected from move to frontline infantry roles

Ukraine's air force specialists will be spared from performing frontline infantry duties following an announcement by the military's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Highly trained MiG-29 technicians and mechanics will reportedly be protected from being transferred to infantry units, although those units have been struggling to find new troops since the start of the conflict in February 2022.

It has been claimed by reports that since 2024, thousands of air force personnel have been transferred to the ground forces.

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Reportedly, Mr Syrskyi will prevent high-tech specialists and those trained abroad on foreign models of weapons and equipment from being pressed into frontline service.

However, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said that the transfer of some personnel would still need to happen to reinforce combat units facing Russian troops.

President Zelensky has acknowledged that specialists in the air force are essential and should not be reduced.

Ukraine has suffered heavy casualties throughout the conflict and calls were recently made to Mr Zelensky regarding the lowering of the age of conscription to provide his army with more troops.