Oleksandr Syrskyi, the general leading the Ukrainian counter-offensive, admits that the situation on the eastern front is currently “difficult”. The Russians are gaining ground in the eastern cities of Kupyansk, Lyman and Bachmut, the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces writes on Telegram. “They are superior, both in terms of weapons and manpower,” it says.
The 58-year-old Syrskyi led the Ukrainian defense of Kiev in the spring of 2022 and also participated in the successful offensive that liberated large parts of northeastern Ukraine in the autumn. Now the colonel general is leading the counter-offensive in the east of the country.
“We must fight under conditions where the enemy is superior, both in terms of weapons and manpower,” Syrskyi writes of the “difficult situation” in and around the cities of Kupiansk, Lyman and Bachmut. Yet the top general does not give up hope. “Our troops are holding out on the three fronts and destroying the enemy,” he emphasized.
Earlier this month, Syrskyi claimed that Russian forces were advancing further in the east, but were suffering significant material and human losses. Ukrainian forces, on the other hand, are trying to achieve their goals using “precisely planned combat operations,” the general said. “The lives of our soldiers are the most important thing to us and limiting losses will always be a priority.”
According to Syrskyi, Bachmut remains of great importance to the Russians. Moscow reportedly plans to first launch an attack on the city of Chasiv Yar, then seize several other cities and advance towards Donetsk province.
But the Ukrainian army leadership is closely monitoring the situation, it said. The commanders “analyze Russia’s actions and make efficient decisions to strengthen defenses and destroy the enemy,” Syrskyi said.
