What it takes to train river flotilla crews
Denys Chumak, a Hero of Ukraine and commander of a boat group, has detailed the demanding process behind training river flotilla crews. He says it takes a full six months to properly prepare a boat crew. Chumak emphasizes that a significant portion of that time is spent on drills, with the goal of making every crew action automatic through repeated practice.
“We spend a huge amount of time training the crew as a whole, as well as each individual specialist. To fully train a crew, you need six months.”
Denys Chumak
Chumak, who received the Gold Star award last year, completed 35 combat missions from the Dnipro River’s right bank to the left bank. During these missions, he transported assault troops and evacuated wounded soldiers. After those 35 runs, he switched to a different boat and lost exact count, though he estimates he took part in roughly ten more combat missions.
“There were probably about another ten combat missions.”
Denys Chumak
Selection criteria for crew members
The boat group commander also highlighted how firing from a boat differs from firing from a ground position. “We spend a long time teaching how to shoot from a boat. You see, firing from a ground position and firing from a boat are completely different things,” Chumak explained. He noted that on a boat, operators must fire visually by tracking tracers while standing on the deck with bent knees, rather than aiming through a sight.
- When you’re on a boat, you don’t aim — you work visually by following tracers.
Chumak also outlined his criteria for selecting crew members: “My requirements are that they must be young, agile guys. And not stupid. We don’t take stupid people.” These standards underscore the importance of rigorous training and careful selection in building an effective river flotilla force.
Training river flotilla crews is vital for ensuring the effectiveness and safety of military operations on water. As Chumak points out, a large share of time goes into training, reflecting a serious commitment to developing professional skills. In modern combat, where every mission can be decisive, high-quality selection and preparation become critical to mission success. The growing role of the river flotilla in Ukraine’s defense strategy highlights just how important these efforts are.
In addition to the rigorous training regimen, Chumak's experience highlights the critical nature of tactical operations during combat missions. His insights into the challenges of conducting daring evacuations from the left bank provide a deeper understanding of the complexities faced by river flotilla crews in high-stakes situations.