Ukraine has halted Moscow's momentum and stabilized the battlefield after inflicting severe personnel losses on Russian forces, the former head of the Ukrainian armed forces said in an interview published on Monday.
Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was removed as commander-in-chief during the summer, asserted that Ukrainian troops had "broken Russia's ability to advance." He claimed Russian casualties across the conflict were six times greater than Ukraine's, rising to 11 times higher when assessing fatalities alone. While neither nation publishes official casualty registers, British intelligence estimates indicate approximately 500,000 Russian personnel have been killed since 2022, while the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated up to 150,000 Ukrainian troops were killed by June 2026.
Syrskyi stated that Russian troops gained just 61 square kilometres during the first half of 2026. "It's an indication that the front line has been stabilised," he said, attributing the containment to technological advances and deliberate strikes against weak areas in Moscow's lines. Independent assessments by the Institute for the Study of War similarly found that Russian forces surrendered more ground than they captured in September 2026.
The comments represent the general's first public remarks since President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed him following disputes with former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelensky initially removed Fedorov after open disagreements concerning equipment procurement, but later relieved Syrskyi following civilian demonstrations. Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi was subsequently named as his successor.
Syrskyi dismissed accusations that his military leadership was outdated, pointing to the establishment of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate military branch under his command. Drones now account for 80 percent of Russian losses, he said. Addressing soldier criticism over chaotic withdrawals from Avdiivka, Vuhledar, and Pokrovsk, Syrskyi noted that his units faced steep resource imbalances, including an 18-to-one Russian advantage in aircraft and aerial bombs during 2025.
He further defended the August 2024 cross-border raid into Russia's Kursk region, describing it as "a necessity" that disrupted Russian advances by compelling Moscow to redirect forces away from vulnerable sectors in eastern and southern Ukraine. Syrskyi also urged European governments to set aside complacency, warning that partner nations must begin active preparations for potential wider Russian aggression.
