National Police is forming rifle battalions
The National Police of Ukraine has begun forming rifle battalions to bolster the units deployed to the frontlines. Each administrative oblast in Ukraine is establishing one battalion, resulting in a total of twenty-four rifle battalions. These special purpose police battalions are composed of personnel from various regional police services, including special forces, investigators, operatives, dog handlers, community officers, precinct officers, and others. Enlistment in these rifle battalions is entirely voluntary
All battalions were formed recently, and the servicemen are currently undergoing combat training, which should last about three months. The training is being conducted by instructors from the National Guard and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In June 2024, the National Police announced the formation of three new infantry brigades. It is currently unknown whether these rifle battalions are included in any of these brigades.
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There are indeed 24 oblasti in the internationally-recognized Ukraine, but are you totally sure that the oblasti of Crimea (100% occupied) or Luhansk (95% occupied) will raise up a rifle battalion from their police forces?
22 is a maximum number, and it is also probable that Donetsk oblast will not be able to raise one such battalion either – so 21, not 24.
Crimea has the status of autonomous republic, not oblast.
If you say so. Anyway, with Luhansk and probably Donetsk Oblasti mainly occupied by Russian forces, it is doubtful that there will be 24 police battalions. 22 is a maximum number. Even if Kiev, city with a special status, raised one specifically while the Kiev oblast raised its own battalion, it would be 23, not 24.
Isn’t it a petty discussion whether there are 22, 23 or 24 battalions? They are light infantry at best, probably without heavy weapons. It won’t make any difference whether there are 2 battalions more or less. Plus, it’s questionable whether it will actually be 3 months of training. There are reports that basic training is very poor.
150-155 Mechanized Brigades created in September have been deployed only recently and partially, thus the training and the saving of manpower isn’t that bad as some say. I also heard that many new troops of these Brigades undergone training in the baltic states – capable of training up to 15K Ukrainian soldiers at any given time.
Obviously the brigades needed time to be fully equipped with men and equipment but the span of nine months is a lot of time for this task. Thus it is safe to say that they won’t lack the mandatory and highly needed training.
The best training is on the battlefield.
Mentally perhaps, but not otherwise
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have the most difficult section of the front only on Pokrovsky, and the new brigades will be on the defensive like the 153rd brigade, or it is possible that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will go on the offensive this fall
Five brigades is far from enough to correct the dire situation of the Ukrainian army right now. Plus, they needed these units now, not in several weeks or months.
The problem is also the duration of training on the complex Western weapons. The fact that the first wave of training was too short was demonstrated by the subsequent Ukrainian counterattacks. Too much material was destroyed due to incorrect handling and a lack of experience in maneuvering. In the meantime, the soldiers have spent much longer abroad for training.