What to change in the army, where to take money for war and how to win: interview focus with brothers Yakovlev

They often communicate with Russian prisoners of war and cover everything in their YouTube channel. Two snipers who have become known . . . They not only serve in the Armed Forces but also engage in social activities. In particular, they cooperate with the Ministry of Defense and try to reform and improve the army. The focus talked with Cyril and Daniel, who told more about their activities and changes in the Armed Forces, which should be expected soon.

Your cooperation with the Ministry of Defense is aimed at accelerating changes in the Armed Forces. What exactly is it, what results do you expect to achieve? Cyril: Collaboration is aimed at improving the conditions of service and preserving the lives of the military. We started working with the Deputy Deputy Defense Minister to analyze and improve documents and processes.

For example, it turned out that the air forces have yet been purchased the form developed in 1963, no one has used it for a long time, but it spent millions of hryvnias every year. Thanks to our work, such problems can be eliminated. In addition, it is planned to create a support center for fighters, where professional military will participate in the development and implementation of innovations for the army for the first time since 1991.

What changes in the army can happen in the near future? Cyril: If I'm not mistaken, the minister signed what will happen next year, for example, seven layers of clothing for the military. Military various units (army aviation, air force, landing troops, MCOs, etc. ) are working to improve armor protection, convenience of clothing and ammunition. Some of the samples are ready, others are at the test stage. We hope that next year we will see a significantly improved ammunition.

Which tasks take the most time? Cyril: The main challenge is the change of the system. Since 1991, professional military has not participated in the work of the Ministry of Defense. The military with great authority and competence is now being involved in this process. What are the disadvantages in the army structure? Cyril: This is a Soviet, which rooted . . . Danilo: The main drawback is the unwillingness to update.

Many commanders and generals - the elderly, and changes, such as mandatory study of English, only relate to ordinary ones. The changes should go down from the top, starting with the higher command staff. A general who does not have modern technologies cannot adequately interact with the military who use them. Therefore, the generals need to create special courses and recertification to provide real changes.

Do you think that the state has sufficient resources, including financial resources, to implement changes in the Armed Forces, if now the main focus is on financing the needs of the front? Cyril: All the war is money. We need to count not lost territory, we must first count money. One dead military costs 15 million hryvnias for the state, plus the support of his family.

At the same time, for example, if we increase the chance for a serviceman to survive, then instead of 15 million we will spend 100 thousand hryvnias. For example, we will give him headphones, eye protection, more kevlar to survive in this war. That is, we will save. There is money, but if properly distributed and used. I have already given an example with a military form, which since 1963 was purchased but not used. My brother and I did not receive any military form, no ammunition from our country.

But for us, someone made it, and she probably lies in the warehouse. But we do not want to use it because we believe that the quality of this form is very low. If we want to survive in the war, we will better raise money and buy what we really save lives and will not imitate it. There is money, it is necessary to distribute them correctly, to remove a corruption component.

How do the disadvantages in the army structure affect the situation at the front? Do you see that certain problems affect the effectiveness of defense? Cyril: Well. First of all, it is a lie when they lie to people when they lie to the military. Because of this, the moral and psychological state of the army deteriorates. Because of this, the commanders of the lower and higher levels make mistakes. For example, they did not report that some plantings were lost.

Fighters send there - and they die, because they believed that there were our military, and there was no ours. And there are many such examples. First of all, we have to stop lying to each other. I'm not saying we have to tell the truth only. The war is not about the truth. War is a lie. But when we lie to ourselves, such as in Russia, we then face that we lose even more people, territories, money. A normal, clear personnel policy, which is not present in the country at all, is also needed.

I have brothers who have been serving in the army since 2014, have already conducted many successful operations, I did not know how much time in the trenches, but they are still sergeants or younger officers. With their experience and level of preparation for so much time, they could already be in operational-tactical groups or work in the General Staff.

But this is not, why? Have you encountered the fact that certain persons or structures slow down the introduction of changes in the army? How does this affect the overall reform process? Cyril: Yes, the system that has been built since the 1990s, by its nature, slows down any changes, we feel even in such an important process as digitalization. Digitalization is a real breakthrough, because it significantly reduces bureaucracy, reduces corruption and already produces noticeable results.

Earlier, for example, to get a well -deserved vacation, the military sometimes had to pay $ 200 to the commander. Of course, this did not happen everywhere, but the cases were frequent. Now with electronic document circulation, such a scheme is simply impossible. But the old system is unprofitable, so its representatives are trying to block changes. They trigger rumors, pay Telegram channels, spreading myths about danger, for example, that "data will get to Russia.

" And what can get? What the military wants on the vacation he deserved? This is an absurdity. Now all processes are transparent and controlled online. If the commander does not perform his duties, it is immediately visible and the Defense Ministry may intervene promptly. This allows you to destroy the old system. For example, through digitalization, even orders will be stored electronically, which will avoid irresponsibility.

Previously, it could be like this: the commander verbally orders to storm the position. The military goes into battle, suffered losses, and when they raise the issue of insufficient preparation or lack of support, the commander is baptized: "I didn't say it. " And it is impossible to prove anything, because everything was in words. Digitalization excludes such situations - orders should be stored, analyzed and served for the future.

It's not just a change is a fight against a "scoop" that still poisons our army. Digitalization is the foundation for a new, effective system that brings us closer to victory. How do you think it is possible to digate everything in the army quickly? Cyril: A very good team is engaged in digitalization in the Ministry of Defense. It has already been said that 20% was digitally. Also, the question is not only how quickly it can be done, but also the question in quality.

For example, since 2014 we have said that we are going to NATO, although nothing was done in fact. I think many soldiers know that only on the doors of the staff offices have changed plates and appeared, like American, names of sections of units-C-1, C2. The question is not in time, but in quality. Now what is happening is working very quickly. But we need to understand that it is impossible that we have not done 30 years of age in six months - a year.

Therefore, you need to join if possible and help, not just sit and look. Could all the military unite have accelerated changes? Cyril: They are united, are brothers who are skeptical and do not believe. On the other hand, when a full -scale war began, I think most people did not believe that we were staying at least a month against Russia, but everyone took the weapons that had not had it - they took bags, shovels and went to defend their country, Someone fired, dug, and someone was cooking.

We can sit all our lives and tell you that it will not work, everything is bad, or we can try. We try to improve life in the army, and if someone does not like something - you need to take and do, not sit and whine. Danilo: If someone does not like it, he can gather a team, agree and show an example of how to work. Criticism should come from those who do something.

If a person only criticizes and does nothing, then why listen to him? If a person has experience in profile activities, his criticism should be taken into account. Cyril: I want people to understand how it is going on. We work a group of military in different directions, consult the Defense Ministry. We are joined by other military, some of the depicted Defense Ministry and work there 24/7, while others are involved periodically.

In your opinion, what should be the perfect Ukrainian army? What features and structures should be changed to reach this ideal? Danilo: The ideal army should move from the post -Soviet management system to the modern, NATO model. The main problem is the management and logistics system. For comparison, Nova Poshta works in logistics tens, if not hundreds of times more efficient than the Armed Forces structure.

The Defense Ministry needs to involve professional managers and communicators who already have successful management experience, and only then will real results. For example, why not invite managers from the same "new mail" who built an effective structure? To offer them a high salary-even 3-5 times greater-to help create the same effective system in the army. They do not have access to secret information, but can work on reforming key areas and correcting problems.

However, this requires political will from leadership. Without determination at the highest level, these changes will remain only ideas. But if you find the right people and give them the opportunity to act, the army will become not only more powerful but also more effective and more efficient. When can this really happen? Cyril: Changes can happen when we really want it. You need a system of motivation and clear promotion.

The military should see the prospect of growth - from the sergeant for a year, to the team commander for six years. And since 2014, people have been serving in the army and still running in the infantry, it should not be. Danilo: As an example, it is a French legion, where a clear structure and conditions for promotion: after 2-5 years of service-citizenship, pension, stable social package. And now we say: "Sign a contract, you can queue for an apartment.

" However, you will work for 10-20 years, and the queue will not come to you, because some general will receive from this turn a 5-6 apartment. Our commander, who served in the French Legion, said that the person is in the post of commander of a year or two, after which he passes tests-intellectual, physical, psychological. With a good result, you are raised to another position, if you give up badly - you are moved to the same position to another place.

You serve for a while, you are given the opportunity to jump the tests again, and sooner or later you will go up. A person comes into the army and knows that in five years he will acquire France's citizenship, he will have a pension full of social package, a salary of 3-4 thousand euros, he understands who he will be at the end. Unfortunately, the Armed Forces does not have this yet. Everyone knows that if you go to the army, you will have health and psyche problems.

How should the state support Ukrainian fighters are the issue of ammunition, closing the current needs of units, or possibly increasing wages? Cyril: Here is a whole complex - from earnings to social benefits. How does the state motivate to go to the army? Small salary, UBD gives free public transportation and UAH 500-1000 for utility bills. The awards are also difficult.

The person, when he comes to the army, must understand that he will receive a decent salary, if he is injured - the state will cure, make a good prosthesis. If he dies, the state cares about his children, family. Today, what does the state do? Nothing, probably.

Why can't the state fully provide the army with everything necessary, but at the same time finds funding for infrastructure projects, including road repairs or lighting? Cyril: It is important to distinguish between types of infrastructure. If a road to the house of a deputy in Transcarpathia is being built, it is unacceptable.

But if the path that connects, for example, Konstantinovka with Oleksiivka or Kramatorsk with Slavyansk is repaired, then it is right, because such roads are important for logistics, including military. Another thing is projections that are not related to defense. For example, in Kharkiv they create green streets, relax zones, or hang political billboards. This does not affect the combat capability of the army.

There are also strategic projects, such as the construction of bridges that help improve logistics to the front. These are very expensive and long -term processes, but they are necessary to strengthen the defense capability. Therefore, it is important to distinguish: there are projects that really help the army, and there are those that only improve the comfort of the lives of individuals. The state should concentrate on supporting defense and enhances our ability to withstand the enemy.

Why does the state admit that money is spent on improving the lives of some individuals, not fighters or accelerating victory? Cyril: This is a question for decentralization that took place in the country. Local communities are now responsible for financial issues, and if someone steals money or does it wrong, it is already a problem at the local level.

If the central government would decide, for example, to build a road to Bukovel instead of improving logistics in the east or south, it would be a question for it. However, I do not remember that happens. Danilo: Ukraine is still a post -Soviet country, and many are accustomed to counting on the top. Decentralization has given more resources to local authorities, but people often do not want to work with local officials or develop plans for the development of their cities.

What do you think the role of civilians in helping the army and accelerating victory? What exactly can they do to support the military? Cyril: They are already doing it. If civilians did not connect and began to help the army in 2022, I would be sure that we would lose this war. Domaging, developing new protection systems for the military, food that is constantly delivered to the front is very important.

Now the military in their Telegram Publishes began to write that help from people decreased, they began to reach less, why and what to do to change it? Cyril: It is necessary to lift the economy of the country in order to have fewer corruption scandals to plant top officials for corruption. How many sentences about MSEC? Zero. How many of the prosecutors, the shopping center, the deputies, what money was thrown through the fence, or in cases where the military was beaten? Zero.

What are the questions for people? When people constantly give everything and then see some fatty animal lying on the couch and near it six million dollars, well people ask: "Why do I give to the army half of my pension of 3000 hryvnias, when there is money, but just them steal? " Corruption is the first thing that interferes. Also, people did not live better, the dollar and the euro rise, social support and salaries from the state are decreasing. It becomes difficult for people to live.

If in 2022-2023 people had some money for a rainy day, now they just have not left. Plus we lose even more areas where people also work. Russia destroys enterprises not only state but also private, so I do not think that civilians are guilty. With regard to the donars in our country all is well, and people give everything they have. For example, we have a brother, except for a machine gun and two shops, all other ammunition is to make our subscribers, friends, acquaintances.

We have everything from people, so we cannot allow us to say that they have helped us little. In addition to ammunition, we have a car, fuel, repair - it is a merit of exclusively those people who give us. You often deal with Russian prisoners of war. Can you outline the overall portrait of the Russian military? Danilo: Basically, these are people with low education and social status. They often do not have extensive experience and do not find opportunities for normal earnings in their country.

Most of them do not understand how you can earn more, and therefore agree to large amounts that they offer, even if they mean their death on the battlefield. Cyril: To put it simply, these are people with education at no more than nine classes and with low levels of abundance. Danilo: These are people from a low social link who could not be realized in Russia. For them, the amounts like 200 thousand rubles or three million for signing the contract are very big money.

Ми всі розуміємо, що це близько 20-25 тисяч доларів, і для них це просто неймовірні суми. Тому вони приїжджають сюди, і навіть за великих втрата, наприклад, тисяча загиблих на день, все одно не припиняється набір.

Нам потрібно знищувати мінімум 2,5-3 тисячі росіян щодня, щоб вони не могли поповнювати свої ряди. І навіть за таких втрат вони продовжують формувати нові ударні групи.

Також є ПВК, які приїжджають сюди для того, щоб здійснювати геноцид і заробляти на прості речі, як автомобіль або туалет вдома. Для Росії, можна вважати, це війна для бідних? Кирило: Так, вони збирають усіх, кого можуть, обіцяючи великі гроші, щоб вони йшли сюди й гинули.

В Україні на війні платять 24-25 тисяч гривень, а в Росії на контрактній службі можна отримати 20-30 тисяч доларів. Це велика фінансова мотивація йти сюди й помирати. Данило: У Росії також заморожують іпотеку, дають можливість дітям вступити до будь-яких навчальних закладів.

Коли ми спілкувались з російськими полоненими, вони говорили, що їхня середня зарплата — 15-30 тисяч рублів, і підписавши контракт, вони отримують понад мільйон рублів, плюс інші пільги.

Зрозуміло, що коли вони сюди їдуть, їм обіцяють, що ті будуть водіями, будівельниками, сидіти в штабі, тому що тут є професійна армія, яка воює, а ті тільки будуть її підтримувати.

Вони в це вірять та їдуть, їм не повідомляють справжні втрати, вони реально вірять, що перемагають. Як щодо можливостей та навичок військових РФ? На початку війни їх вважали такими "Ваньками", які нічого не можуть.

А як зараз — це сильний чи слабкий противник? Кирило: Противника ніколи не можна недооцінювати або переоцінювати. Росіяни дуже швидко вчаться. Як ми почали використовувати "Мавіки", так і вони їх застосували.

Коли ми почали використовувати FPV-дрони, вони теж стали їх використовувати. У них є професійна армія, зокрема люди, які воювали з 2014 року, а також мають досвід бойових дій в Сирії, Африці, Чечні, Грузії, Придністров'ї та Афганістані.

Вони мають багато військових із бойовим досвідом. Наприклад, у Бахмуті командирами ПВК "Вагнер" були досвідчені військові, але вони командували зеками, які майже нічого не вміли.

Але якщо є хороший командир, який може правильно поставити завдання і керувати, то результат буде. І це підтверджується тим, що вони захопили Бахмут. Хоча з великими втратами, це було боляче для них, але вони досягли своєї мети.

Третій рік війни вже дуже виснажливий, як ви підтримуєте свій морально-психологічний стан у таких складних умовах? Данило: Ми займаємося багатьма різними справами, які допомагають відволіктися від тяжкої буденності.

Ми не тільки служимо в піхоті, але й ведемо свій YouTube-канал, працюємо в соціальних мережах, співпрацюємо з різними організаціями для допомоги та пришвидшення перемоги. Також ми займаємося забезпеченням нашого підрозділу, що додає нам відчуття корисності та мотивації.

Є ще багато інших важливих моментів, що тримають нас у тонусі. Звісно, новини дуже демотивують, бо хороших новин мало, але ми повинні пам'ятати про наших побратимів, які досі в полоні, і про тих, кого вже немає серед нас.

Ми не можемо їх зрадити, тому повинні робити все, щоб війна якнайшвидше завершилася нашою перемогою. Це дуже важливо для всіх нас. Як підвищити бажання українців мобілізуватися? Назвіть три найкращі поради.

Кирило: Для підвищення мобілізації важливі три аспекти: зарплата, забезпечення та довіра до командирів. Люди йдуть до армії, коли впевнені, що їх сім'я буде забезпечена, а командири будуть надійними. Зараз страхи та невизначеність гальмують цей процес.

Що ви плануєте робити після завершення війни? Данило: Відпочивати. Можливо, займатися політикою чи громадською діяльністю? Кирило: Для політики потрібні гроші. Громадською діяльністю ми займаємося, мабуть, з 16 років. Ми вже трохи втомилися нею займатися.

Подивимося, потрібно закінчити війну, а вже потім щось думати. Ми будемо вести соцмережі, намагатися щось покращити в нашій країн.

Нагадаємо, 26 листопада український боєць Кирило Яковлев зауважив у розмові з Фокусом, що потрібно зменшувати призовний вік та покращувати базову загальну військову підготовку, сержантський та офіцерський склад.