Key facts
- Ukraine's former commander-in-chief, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russia's offensive ability is broken.
- Syrskyi claimed Russia's overall losses are six times higher than Ukraine's, with dead potentially 11 times greater.
- He stated Russia seized 61 sq km in the first six months of 2026, indicating a stabilized front line.
- Syrskyi was dismissed in the summer after disagreements with then-defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
- He urged European allies to prepare for potential Russian territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine.
- Syrskyi predicted increased use of robots, AI, and AI-based control systems in future warfare.
Ukraine's former commander-in-chief, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, has claimed that Ukraine has stabilized the front line and "broken Russia's ability to advance" by inflicting heavy casualties on Russian forces. In an interview with the BBC, his first since being dismissed in the summer, Syrskyi stated that Russia's overall losses are six times higher than Ukraine's, and potentially 11 times higher if only counting dead soldiers.
Syrskyi attributed the current stalemate to the significant difference in death tolls, technological advancements, and a strategy of attacking weak points in Russian lines while containing advances elsewhere. He noted that Russia managed to seize only 61 sq km in the first six months of 2026, indicating a stabilized front line, a trend also confirmed by the Institute for Study of War (ISW).
His dismissal in the summer followed a public disagreement with then-defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov over the procurement of weapons and supplies. Syrskyi argued that Fedorov prioritized drones over essential front-line equipment and that the army received only half of its drone needs. Despite criticism that he was "old school," Syrskyi highlighted the unprecedented use of drones, including deep strikes over 2,000 km behind enemy lines, and the creation of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces under his command, stating drones now account for 80% of Russia's losses.
Syrskyi also urged European allies to prepare for potential Russian territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine, warning them to "drop all illusions that [it] will not come." He predicted that future warfare will become more technological, with increased use of robots, AI, and AI-based control systems, though he stressed the continued importance of the human role in controlling these systems.