The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the size of the Russian grouping has for a long time remained at around 710,000 personnel, and the enemy has been unable to increase this number despite active recruitment in Russia, because Ukrainian warriors are “minus-ing” about a thousand occupiers killed and wounded every day.
This was stated in his message on December 13.
“The operational situation remains difficult. The enemy is conducting offensive actions along almost the entire line of combat contact. On certain days, the number of combat engagements reaches 300 — the highest since the beginning of the war. However, the Ukrainian army is holding back the pressure, disrupting the Kremlin’s plans, not abandoning the tactics of active defense and applying them effectively”, — he wrote.
Oleksandr Syrskyi emphasized this during a meeting summarizing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the previous month.
“At the cost of enormous losses, the enemy managed to take control of some of our territories in November. However, statements by Russian propaganda about the pace of advancement of Russian troops do not correspond to reality. Moreover, in some important directions, we are conducting our own active actions and clearing settlements of the enemy”, — the Commander-in-Chief assured.
In particular, Ukrainian active actions continue in the area of the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration.
“In Pokrovsk itself, over the past few weeks, we have managed to regain control of about 16 square kilometers in the northern part of the city. Logistics to Myrnohrad are difficult, but continue. At the same time, no territorial losses have been allowed in the Kupiansk, Kostiantynivka, and Prydniprovske operational directions”, — Oleksandr Syrskyi noted.
He thanked Ukrainian soldiers, sergeants, and officers who are достойно holding the line and are the best guarantee of Ukraine’s independence and the strongest argument at negotiations to achieve a just peace.
Despite the high intensity of combat operations, measures to improve the command and control system are ongoing.
“An important step has been taken — we have fully transitioned to the corps system. Army corps and their commanders have already gained experience and are conducting designated operations. Now we are bringing corps sets in line with the actual composition of the army corps. Rotation of corps brigades has begun — where the situation allows”, — Oleksandr Syrskyi added.
The meeting also addressed issues of fortifications and engineering equipment, restoration of brigade combat capability, analysis of law and order, and the moral and psychological state of the troops.
“There are problematic issues. Solutions have been proposed. Following the results of the meeting, I set the necessary tasks for military command bodies. Among them are stabilizing the situation in threatening directions through active defense, ensuring reinforcements for combat units, transitioning certain Territorial Defense brigades to a structure with an enhanced unmanned component. By the end of the year, we must complete the formation of the Cyber Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, — he concluded.
