Exclusive interview with the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko to Interfax-Ukraine (Part 1) 

Part 2 is available here: https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/interview/1036976.html

 

Brigadier General, Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Pivnenko, was appointed to the position a year and a half ago, becoming the youngest commander of the National Guard in the history of independent Ukraine. He is 38. However, Pivenko is no novice in military affairs: he has a military education, served in the Omega special forces unit, took an active part in the Anti-terrorist Operation (ATO)/Joint Forces Operation (JFO) and, of course, helped repel the Russian invasion during the full-scale invasion, defending Kharkiv region and Bakhmut. Pivenko commanded a brigade and was the head of the territorial administration. He ushered in a period of change and innovation for the National Guard. In the interview, the National Guard commander spoke about many aspects of the war, including the situation at the front, the operational situation, replenishment of brigades, AWOL, recruiting, weapons and technologies.

Interview by Valeria Proshchenko, Oksana Gerontieva

 

Brigades, the front and challenges

It's been about a year and a half since you were appointed commander of the National Guard. Back then, you said that your main task was to put the offensive brigades into action. What has changed since then and what is the National Guard doing now?

The National Guard is a military formation with law enforcement functions. Law enforcement functions were and are the following: protection of critical infrastructure facilities, ensuring public safety, escorting are important tasks both in wartime and in peacetime. This will continue to be the case.

Our military component is the Offensive Guard, my task was to man and prepare seven National Guard brigades. It was important that they perform tasks as part of brigades, and not as separate units. Today, all seven brigades perform tasks on the front line (from the north of Kharkiv region to Kherson region), that is, the goal has been achieved. But more than 20 units of the National Guard are involved in containing the enemy at the front.

Currently, the main and complex areas of work of the brigades are the Kupyansk, Lyman, Pokrovsk, and Toretsk axes, that is, those sections of the front where it is very "hot." The National Guard brigades were significantly involved in stabilizing the front in the north of the Kharkiv region, in the Serebryansk forest. In Selydove (Pokrovsk axis), for example, the fighters of National Guard 15th Brigade, Kara-Dag, performed tasks and inflicted significant losses on the enemy during the period of massive assaults. In general, our brigades already have sufficient experience, as do the commanders, who enjoy authority not only in the National Guard, but also in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The provision of funding for the National Guard continues, and will not be reduced next year – an increase is even planned. In 2024, we purchased dozens of units of various types of equipment (armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks, vehicles for transporting personnel, weapons, equipment, etc.)

Understanding the need and analyzing our experience, on my initiative we created a separate Artillery Brigade, which is armed with the Ukrainian Bohdan 155mm self-propelled (NATO standard artillery caliber). Also, in the past few months, Zuzana 155mm self-propelled guns and DITA self-propelled howitzers have arrived. We are already using them on the front. That is, we are currently in the process of receiving vehicles. In parallel we are training people and will already use all these systems directly both in units and separately in our artillery brigade.

 

What about help from partners?

This has been difficult, but over the past year we have leveled the situation and are working more effectively with partners in various areas, we have begun to be assisted by vehicles such as M113s (U.S. military’s amored personnel carrier), FV432s (British military’s armored personnel carriers) and others. The National Guard has received funds to strengthen mobile fire groups – this is important for strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure.

 

How do you provide ammunition?

We purchase ammunition independently, a large part of our budget goes to this. We purchase the entire possible line for ourselves: from 60-155mm rounds. The greatest demand is for 122mm and 155mm shells. Additionally, we also receive ammunition through the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Due to state programs and our own purchases, our units receive Mavic UAVs of all types and other UAVs. Volunteers also constantly interact with our UAV brigades and units. This is also tangible support and it is necessary in many areas, since the number of drones in the area of active fighting is very large, but the enemy is not advancing.

 

Tell us about the general operational situation in specific areas where the brigades are currently deployed

It is not easy in the Kupyansk sector. We are standing, defending ourselves and withstanding the onslaught. Yes, the enemy is pressing and trying to advance, but our soldiers are effectively destroying enemy manpower.

As for the Toretsk, Pokrovsk and Kurakhove axes, the situation there is very difficult. But the Defense Forces are doing everything necessary to contain the enemy. I am sure that the enemy "feels" what price they are paying for these attacks. And, at the same time, there are no offensive actions that continue constantly. As for the enemy's involvement in equipment at the front - the situation is certainly different, but these are no longer the same numbers and volumes that we saw before, when the invaders were storming aboard scooters and Zhiguli sedans. And I will add that the enemy is not just attracting military personnel from the DPRK. The Russian military has suffered losses and has certain problems with personnel. But now we need to mobilize recruits inside the country. This is the most important thing. Everyone must do what they can to win.

 

What is the percentage ratio of the law enforcement and combat components of the National Guard?

Some 60% are at war, 40% are law enforcement. I am not at liberty to specify the numbers.

 

Does the fact that the National Guard is within the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs give you certain advantages?

Of course, at the government level, the Minister supports our needs in logistical support, making the necessary changes at the legislative level to optimize the activities of the National Guard. We carry out many tasks throughout the country together with other units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – and this is about quick interaction. The Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is often on the front line, knows the situation at the front and in other areas and tasks.

 

What is the current combat capability of the brigades, taking into account all the challenges and actions of the enemy?

I will say this: we hold our ground, and sometimes we counterattack. One brigade can hold a larger line of combat contact than is foreseen or be incompletely manned. But these are the realities of war, where the front line is over 1000 kilometers long and the enemy has a numerical advantage and aviation. We destroy more than 10-20 units of equipment daily. And when repelling massive assaults in cooperation with adjacent units, this figure can grow many times over.

 

Mobilization and the need for recruits

How are brigades replenished? What gives better results – recruitment or mobilization?

Most of our recruits have been conscripted. Of course, there is recruiting, but that accounts for about 40%. This is an important issue, because there are newly created units, there is a large front line and there are losses, as in all military units.

 

And all this, of course, affects the rotation of troops to and from the front line…

Yes, this is what rotation depends on. People can't be in a trench for 50 days or at the front for months without rest. We need to rest, take leave. The war is hard, the enemy outnumbers us. Therefore, we need to recover. But due to the enemy's activity at the front, some brigades have already fought in three sectors during the year. Of course, this has consequences for the brigade's combat capability.

 

Drones and aviation

The National Guard manufactures and tests unmanned systems on its own. How important is their role in the brigade's effectiveness?

Unmanned systems are of great importance: if the brigades are sufficiently equipped with UAV crews, the enemy will not reach the position. And this is our main goal. On average, a good figure for a brigade is about 60 UAV crews, 85-90 is already a high level of provision with unmanned systems and crews.

Separate units engaged in the manufacture and testing of drones were created even before I took office. I initiated the creation of the Omega Wings and Typhoon units. They operate in important areas. For example, there is a serious offensive in the Torets direction, I transfer these crews there, and they work together with the brigade commander. The units will have operational subordination and act additionally.

The Separate Artillery Brigade works in the same way: to reinforce difficult areas. That is, if we are talking about unmanned systems, then we are talking about such a unit and increasing its number, in order to then help those brigade commanders who have not yet fully appreciated that unmanned systems are a force for the successful performance of combat missions or have smaller units at their disposal.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, our unmanned systems units have destroyed enemy equipment worth several billion dollars. This includes 1,454 tanks, 2,496 armored personnel carriers, 4,064 artillery systems, 58 air defense units, and much more.

We have also created a Center for the Control and Analysis of the Use of Unmanned Systems. We have written our own software, are working with those introduced in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and are integrating.

A very effective direction is the shooting down of Russian reconnaissance drones with our FPV drones. In three months, 270 enemy drones (Orlan, Zala, Supercam, etc.) were shot down. There are additional payments for shooting down – our fighters are actively hunting them.

 

What is the role of aviation on the battlefield?

We have aircraft, crews and aircraft that constantly perform tasks for fire control in mission areas, aeromedical evacuation, etc. Every day, helicopters perform combat missions. They take off, work on targets, and return. Of course, it would be better if we still had airplanes and helicopters.

 

Does the National Guard use robotic systems?

We are working in this area. Currently, such complexes are available in Azov, Khartia, and some other units. An offensive operation has already been carried out with drones, practically without the involvement of infantry (north of Kharkiv region). This is, if not the first in history, then definitely the first such operation in the history of the National Guard. But this is not a mass operation. And this is currently objective. Robotic systems cannot operate separately, only in the battalion system, so they must be integrated. We want to create effective robotic ground complexes. We have already determined our needs, we are waiting.

To be continued