Syrsky stated that new brigades must be formed to counter a potential threat from Belarus
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, made this statement in a comment to LIGA.net.
According to Syrskyi, having failed to achieve success on the main fronts, the enemy has decided to expand the scope of its active operations in northern Ukraine. According to the occupiers’ plans, this is intended to extend the active front line by 160 kilometres.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that, in order to ensure this potential offensive is repelled and this territory is protected, Ukraine needs to form new brigades.
“The enemy, incidentally, has revised its plans and intends to create new divisions and five brigades this year. We are forced to respond to such actions. In war, you either seize the initiative or lose it. There is no third option,” said Syrskyi.
When asked why new brigades should be formed rather than reinforcing existing ones, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine replied: “Increasing the size of a brigade will not increase the length of the front line along which it can be deployed.”
Syrskyi added that a brigade “cannot be stretched out”, whilst increasing its strength extends its operational lifespan as a combat unit; in other words, it can carry out its tasks for longer in a specific sector, rather than across a larger area.
The Commander-in-Chief emphasised separately that the nature of the front line is now different: it has expanded significantly in depth.
“So when the front line is expanding both in width and depth, the maths is inescapable: new military units are needed,” he added.
Growing threats from Belarus: what is known
In April 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that roads were being built in the border regions of Belarus leading into Ukrainian territory and that artillery positions were being established. And in early May, the head of state spoke of “specific activity” on the part of Belarus near the Ukrainian border.
Later, Ukrainian intelligence warned that Russia was attempting to involve Belarus in new aggressive operations — “either directed at Ukraine or one of the NATO countries”.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that offensive operations from Belarus are a very real possibility.
Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine is aware of “every factory in Belarus that is working for Russia and for this war”, in particular, a factory supplying components for Russian weapons and a factory supplying fuel to Russia.
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