Ukraine has successfully stabilized the front line and neutralised Russia’s ability to make further advances, according to statements made by the country’s former commander-in-chief, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi. Speaking in his first interview since leaving his post, Syrskyi attributed the development to high mortality rates suffered by Russian forces along the battlefield.
Syrskyi stated that overall Russian casualties in the conflict are six times greater than those of Ukraine, adding that the ratio rises to 11 times if counting only fatalities. Official mortality figures are not published by either nation. However, British intelligence estimates indicate that Russia has lost roughly 500,000 personnel since the 2022 invasion began, while estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicate Ukrainian troop deaths reached up to 150,000 by June 2026.
Dismissing Command Criticism
Addressing his dismissal over the summer following a dispute with former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Syrskyi pushed back against criticisms labeling him too old-fashioned for modern warfare. He highlighted that unmanned aerial vehicles rose to prominence during his tenure, with Ukrainian forces launching deep strikes over 2,000 kilometres behind enemy lines and creating the Unmanned Systems Forces as a distinct military branch. According to Syrskyi, drones now cause 80 percent of Russian losses.
Syrskyi also defended his operational decisions, including contentious troop orders and the August 2024 Kursk region incursion. While some military personnel described the eventual spring retreat from Kursk as disastrous, Syrskyi maintained that the operation forced Russian forces to divert personnel and relieved pressure on Ukrainian brigades elsewhere along the front line. Following mass public protests and internal disagreements, President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced Syrskyi with Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Looking ahead, the former general cautioned European nations against assuming the conflict will remain confined to Ukraine, advising allies to prepare for broader security challenges. He noted that future warfare will rely increasingly on artificial intelligence, robotics, and automated defence systems, though human oversight will remain essential on the battlefield.
Source: BBC News
