Ukraine’s military chief has ordered sweeping security changes at training centers, banning tent encampments and mandating the construction of fortified shelters following a series of lethal Russian missile strikes on rear-area bases.

Syrskyi Issues Orders to Protect Troops

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi issued the directive on Tuesday, highlighting the urgent need to shield soldiers in non-combat zones. “The accumulation of personnel and military equipment, the placement of servicemen in tent camps is prohibited!” Syrskyi wrote on Telegram. He emphasized that his “unconditional demand” was to improve safety for all servicemen in training facilities.

The move follows growing concerns over lax discipline at rear military sites, increasingly targeted by Russia as its forces advance on multiple fronts.

Deadly Strikes Prompt Accountability

Recent strikes have exposed significant vulnerabilities. On May 20, six Ukrainian servicemen were killed and ten wounded at a shooting range. On June 22, another missile hit a mechanized brigade training ground, killing three and injuring over a dozen.

The most politically significant blow came last month, when a Russian missile killed 12 soldiers at a training ground, prompting the resignation of ground forces commander Mykhailo Drapatyi on June 1. “We will not win this war if we do not build an army where honour is not just a word but a deed,” he wrote on Facebook.

Additional Engineering Measures Underway

Alongside banning open-air encampments, Syrskyi said that the armed forces would implement “additional engineering solutions” including dugouts, hardened shelters, and likely expanded early warning measures.

With tens of thousands of casualties already sustained in Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022, the Ukrainian military is facing growing pressure to better protect its troops—not just at the front, but also in the rear.