Ukrainian General Dmytro Marchenko retires from service

Source: Dmytro Marchenko/Facebook

On Friday, Major General Dmytro Marchenko has announced his retirement.  The military leader who was in command of Mykolaiv defenses in the early days of the war, said he will need to focus on a much-needed recovery after years on the frontlines.

“No enemy challenges, no pressure could ever stop my the unbreakable fight for Ukraine. That’s why this decision to step down is the hardest one I’ve ever made,” Marchenko wrote on his farewell statement on social media.

Marchenko’s career includes several critical missions like a reconnaissance operation in occupied Crimea, leading 75 soldiers to safety from the deadly “Izvaryne Cauldron,” and the defense of Donetsk Airport in 2014-2015.

Beyond the battlefield, he pushed for reforms in military supplies and introduced new field rations for the troops—vital changes that improved soldiers’ well-being on the ground.

“Even the unbreakable need patching up now and then to stay afloat,” Marchenko shared. “Military service always demands sacrifices, and without timely recovery, everything can feel like it’s for nothing.”

In a heartfelt note, he thanked his supporters revealing this year will be busy as he has founded the Marchenko Foundation, a charitable organization that will help the military.

Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.

Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.

A kamikaze drone flies directly toward an armored personnel carrier. But instead of penetrating the hull, it explodes on a steel screen. The crew survives. This is the new reality for Ukrainian forces, who have received enhanced protection thanks to the Metinvest project within “Steel Front of Rinat Akhmetov”.

To commemorate the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, “Bukvy” has compiled data on the largest donors supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Among them there are charitable foundations and businesses. The list includes, in particular, foundations that provide assistance exclusively from their own resources, without fundraising (such as SCM by Rinat Akhmetov, Epicenter, etc.).

In just 1.5 months, Ukrainian specialists have created an innovative protective shell for the control modules of anti-aircraft missile systems (AMS) Patriot and Iris-T SLM. This development was another step in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities, aimed at protecting key elements of the air defense system from debris damage.