Situation escalates: Syrskyi to reinforce problematic defense areas in eastern Ukraine

The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, visited the positions of the Ukrainian troops on the eastern front. The Russian Federation has significantly intensified its offensive, so decisions were made to strengthen the most vulnerable areas on the frontline

Syrskyi wrote about this on Telegram.

The army chief said that the situation on the eastern front has deteriorated significantly in recent days, primarily due to a sharp intensification of the enemy's offensive after the presidential election in Russia. 

According to him, the enemy is actively attacking Ukrainian positions in the Lyman and Bakhmut sectors with assault groups supported by armored vehicles. In the Pokrovsk direction, they are trying to break through Ukrainian defenses using dozens of tanks and armored personnel carriers. 

The commander-in-chief noted that this is facilitated by the warm, dry weather, which has made most of the open areas accessible to tanks. Despite significant losses, the Russian army is stepping up its efforts, using new armored units, which periodically achieves tactical success. 

"Therefore, the first day of my work in the area of operation is dedicated to this direction and taking all necessary measures to stabilize the situation, increase the effectiveness of our troops and inflict maximum losses on enemy units," he wrote.

Syrskyi said that, following the conclusions on the nature of the enemy's actions, decisions were made to strengthen the most problematic defense areas with electronic warfare and air defense equipment. The stocks of drones of all types, anti-tank missiles, and additional reserves of forces and equipment have also been replenished. 

He also said that the issue of achieving technical superiority over the enemy in high-tech weapons has once again arisen. 

"Only this will give us the opportunity to defeat a larger enemy and create conditions for seizing the strategic initiative," Syrskyi said.

According to the commander-in-chief, the second major challenge is to improve the quality of training of military personnel, especially infantry units, so that they can make the most of all the power of military equipment and Western weapons.  

Syrskyi added that this task is primarily the responsibility of the Ground Forces Command, which has returned from the combat zone in full strength. 

"The results of my work will be taken into account in the training plans of the troops, command and control bodies," he said. 

Syrskyi also decorated Ukrainian soldiers with awards and valuable gifts, and discussed the current situation and ways to resolve problematic issues with them in a personal conversation.

"We are aware of the real scale and degree of the threat from the enemy and are ready to take adequate and effective actions," Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief stressed.