Oleksandr Syrskyi is stepping down as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and has summarised his work
Oleksandr Syrskyi has announced that on 22 July he will step down from his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a position he has held for almost two and a half years. The general published a statement to this effect on his Facebook page.
“For any officer, leading the army during a major war is the greatest responsibility. I have witnessed this war from its very first day in 2014, lived on the front line, and know the value of every kilometre of Ukrainian land that has been liberated,” Syrskyi said.
He recalled that in February and March 2022 he commanded the defence of Kyiv, when the Ukrainian military managed to hold the capital. That same spring, he said, the threat of a complete siege of Kharkiv was averted.
Syrskyi also mentioned the offensive operation in the Kharkiv region, during which the Defence Forces liberated Balakliya, Izium and Kupiansk, as well as the fighting in the Donetsk region, where the most combat-effective unit of the Wagner Group was destroyed.
The general emphasised that he took command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in February 2024, whilst the defence of Avdiivka was underway and Ukrainian units were under semi-encirclement.
“One of my first orders in this post was to organise an orderly withdrawal from the city. It was a difficult decision. But I made it because I had one overriding priority: saving people’s lives,” he said.
According to Syrskyi, over the following year, the Ukrainian military halted the Russian advance in the Kharkiv region, thwarted an offensive in the Sumy region and carried out the Kursk operation.
“I want this to be made absolutely clear: our aim was never to occupy foreign territory. Our aim was to thwart the enemy’s planned offensive on Sumy and Kharkiv, to draw out their most combat-ready troops and to build up the prisoner exchange pool so that we could bring our people back from captivity. All of this was achieved,” the general emphasised.
Syrskyi noted that during this time the army had changed not only on the battlefield but also organisationally. According to him, a separate branch of the armed forces – the Unmanned Systems Forces – has been established in Ukraine; a separate command for unmanned air defence systems has been formed; permanent crews for interceptor drones have been set up; and a layered system of rear cover has been established.
He also stated that the Defence Forces had closed the Black Sea port in Novorossiysk, are systematically destroying Russia’s shadow fleet, and that the Ukrainian army has transitioned to a corps-based structure, where the path to leadership positions involves service on the front line.
The general reported that, during the liberation of Ukrainian territories, the Dobropil operation and an offensive operation in the Oleksandrivka sector had been carried out. According to him, the Defence Forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops on the main fronts and are conducting offensive operations in certain sectors of the front.
“I am not authorised to speak today about some of the operations we have carried out over the years. History will tell their story. I will say only this: the enemy has taken note of them,” Syrskyi said.
He added that this year, the Ukrainian Defence Forces have liberated 700 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory.
“I am handing over to my successor an army that is not only holding its defences but is also on the offensive — with initiative, with structure, and with people who know how to defeat the enemy. And I sincerely hope that this offensive will continue. We have everything we need to do so!” the general emphasised.
Summing up his time in office, Syrskyi stated that he would continue to serve Ukraine.
“My work is war. Positions change, but this principle does not. Whatever my status may be, I will serve Ukraine until Victory,” he emphasised.
At the end of his address, the general noted that for a long time attempts had been made to convince the world that Ukrainians were incapable of fighting, but, in his words, Ukraine had proved the opposite.
“Ukraine is defended by a heroic people. Our country will stand firm if everyone does their part with the same determination as the Ukrainian military,” concluded Syrskyi.
