The latest directive was issued on Jan. 11, when Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi issued an order to transfer over 5,000 Air Force personnel to Ground Forces units.A senior Air Force officer, speaking anonymously, said transfers have now reached a "critical level," with unit staffing dropping to 50%.However, this move has sparked significant debate and concern about its impact on the Air Force’s operational capabilities.Zelensky directed Anatolii Kryvonozhko, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, to ensure the Air Force maintains its required personnel levels and to address public concerns about recent transfers to the Ground Forces."There has been much concern and discussion today regarding these reassignments. I have instructed that everything be explained to the public and not to reduce the ranks of specialists critical to the Air Force – aviation, air defense, and mobile fire units,” he said.The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also weighed in, reassuring the public that critical engineering and aviation specialists servicing aircraft are not being transferred.Instead, selected Air Force personnel are undergoing training to address personnel shortages in infantry and other units.Russian troops overrun Kurakhove, approach Pokrovsk east, south, and southwestRussia keeps on advancing in eastern Donetsk Oblast, taking hold of Kurakhove, which would become the first major town to fall into Russian hands in 2025.