Ukraine’s shift to new tactics has Russia fuming, military expert says

Military expert and former Security Service of Ukraine officer Ivan Stupak shared the information on Espreso TV.

“We don’t know what we have in terms of personnel and equipment because it is a state secret. We can only rely on the words of Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi. But I assume, this is my own assumption, that he may mean not only deploying personnel and equipment as usual, but also striking very deeply into Russia and destroying their capabilities in this way. Perhaps, I assume, there could be two options. The first option is already in effect, and there is a response from the opposite side, that is, from the Russian side. What exactly is meant? After Robert Brovdi (Madyar) was appointed commander of the [Ukrainian] Unmanned Systems Forces, the overall strategy of the unmanned systems changed. They stopped hitting Russian logistics, such as tractors or fuel-carrying vehicles, and started targeting their counterparts, specifically the Russian UAV operators. And I repeat, there are first reactions — the Russians are furious, saying: ‘How is this possible? Something is happening? This is wrong, comrades, everything is bad,’” he said.

Ivan Stupak also suggested that Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi indirectly announced Ukraine’s missile program.

“They say that Ukraine does not hesitate to use even expensive American long-range systems, like HIMARS, to strike deep behind enemy lines at the best and most experienced Russian UAV operators. While the least experienced are near the front line, the more experienced the operator, the farther they hide. The Ukrainian side is now trying to eliminate them all, and this could possibly be called a kind of Ukrainian counteroffensive. Secondly, perhaps Oleksandr Syrskyi is already announcing our missile program, which is expected to become operational, I assume, in July or August. President Zelenskyy has spoken about it. So, maybe all of this is part of a bigger plan. Or maybe there is a third scenario we don’t know about yet,” added the military expert.

• In the first five months of 2025, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and other military units targeted facilities deep inside Russia, causing more than $10 billion in losses.
• On June 22, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russia’s main strategy is to prepare for a long-term war of attrition.
• On June 22, Syrskyi stated that Ukraine would not remain "in static defense" but would combine defensive and offensive actions.