Russia's Offensive Ability is Broken, Says Kyiv's Former Top General
BBC News reports that Ukraine has stabilized the front line and "broken Russia's ability to advance" by inflicting significant losses on its troops, according to Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief.
Syrskyi made these comments in an exclusive interview with the BBC, his first since being forced from his post in the summer. He addressed his sacking, refuting claims that he was too "old school" to lead Ukraine's technologically advanced forces.
The general also challenged allegations from soldiers who served under him, who claimed they were ordered to hold positions even when almost surrounded, resulting in high losses. Syrskyi stated that Moscow's overall losses in the war are six times higher than Ukraine's, and possibly up to 11 times higher if counting only the dead.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine releases official figures on casualties. Ukraine's military reports record losses for Russia, though these cannot be independently verified. UK intelligence estimates suggest Russia has lost around half a million men killed in Ukraine since the 2022 invasion began.
Syrskyi attributes the current stalemate at the front to Ukraine's advantages: technological advancements, strategies targeting weak points in Russian lines, and a successful containment of their advances in other areas. In the first six months of 2026, Russia seized 61 sq km, according to the general, indicating a stabilized front line.
He was appointed commander-in-chief in 2024, winning praise for his defense of Kyiv in 2022 and the successful counteroffensive east of Kharkiv in 2022. However, disagreements with then-defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov led to his sacking alongside that of Fedorov due to street protests.
Syrskyi criticized Fedorov for not considering the army's interests when procuring weapons and supplies, creating an imbalance. He highlighted shortages in crucial front-line equipment, even with drones, as the army received only half of their requested needs.