\u201cIt reduced the threat of an enemy offensive. We prevented them from acting. We moved the fighting to the enemy\u2019s territory so that [the enemy] could feel what we feel every day,\u201d Syrskyi said, in a rare interview that offered a candid assessment of the war. <\/p>\n
Last month, Ukrainian forces stormed into Kursk in a cross-border incursion that caught even American officials by surprise. It signaled that, despite Russia\u2019s advantage in terms of men and armor, its military has vulnerabilities. <\/p>\n
In what is the most detailed explanation of the rationale behind the incursion, Syrskyi outlined the key objectives of the operation: to stop Russia from using Kursk as a launchpad for a new offensive, to divert Moscow\u2019s forces from other areas, to create a security zone and prevent cross-border shelling of civilian objects, to take prisoners of war and to boost the morale of the Ukrainian troops and the nation overall. <\/p>\n
Speaking to Amanpour at an undisclosed location near the frontline, the general, who took over as army chief in February, said Moscow moved tens of thousands of troops to Kursk, including some of its best airborne assault troops. <\/p>\n
And while admitting that Ukraine was under immense pressure in the area around Pokrovsk, the strategic city that has for weeks been the epicenter of war in eastern Ukraine, Syrskyi said his troops have now managed to stall the Russian advances there. <\/p>\n
\u201cOver the last six days the enemy hasn\u2019t advanced a single meter in the Pokrovsk direction. In other words, our strategy is working.\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve taken away their ability to maneuver and to deploy their reinforcement forces from other directions \u2026 and this weakening has definitely been felt in other areas. We note the amount of artillery shelling as well as the intensity of the offensive have decreased,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Speaking to Amanpour just after inspecting the frontlines on Thursday, Syrskyi said that there\u2019s no doubt that Ukraine is outgunned and outmanned as it tries to defend itself against the Russian aggression. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe enemy does have an advantage in aviation, in missiles, in artillery, in the amount of ammunition they use, of course, in personnel, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
But Syrskyi also said the fact that Russia has such a material advantage has forced Ukraine to become smarter and more efficient in the way it\u2019s fighting the war. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot fight in the same way as they do, so we must use, first of all, the most effective approach, use our forces and means with maximum use of terrain features, engineering structures and also, to use technical superiority,\u201d he said, highlighting Ukraine\u2019s advanced drone program and other home-grown high-tech weaponry. <\/p>\n
Syrskyi was named Ukraine\u2019s commander in chief in February, after President Volodymyr Zelensky fired Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi. He took over at a particularly difficult time for Ukraine. <\/p>\n
The months-long delays in the delivery of US military assistance caused critical ammunition shortages. <\/p>\n
At the same time, Ukraine was struggling to replenish its troops, exhausted and diminished after fighting Russia\u2019s relentless offensive for two years. <\/p>\n
Syrskyi said recruiting more soldiers was a priority. The Ukrainian government then passed a controversial mobilization law, requiring all men between 18 and 60 to register with Ukraine\u2019s military and to carry their registration documents on them at all times \u2013 an effort to make the recruitment process more transparent and fair. <\/p>\n
Syrskyi admitted his troops are heading to the battlefield after receiving less training than he\u2019d like them to. <\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, everyone wants the level of training to be the best, so we train highly qualified professional military personnel,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the same time, the dynamics at the front require us to put conscripted servicemen into service as soon as possible,\u201d he added, explaining that new recruits get one month of basic military training followed by half a month to a full month of more specialized training before they are sent to fight. <\/p>\n
Syrskyi told Amanpour that the delays in US military assistance did cause major setbacks on the battlefield and led to a slump in morale \u2013 something he admitted was still an issue. <\/p>\n
He said he takes frequent trips to the frontlines and makes sure he spends time with his troops. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe speak the same language \u2026 we understand each other no matter who I am talking to \u2013 whether this is an ordinary soldier, a rifleman, for example, or a brigade commander, or a battalion commander,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have been in this war since 2014,\u201d he said, referring to Russia\u2019s incursion into the Donbas 10 years ago. \u201cIn other words, the frontline is my life. We understand each other, I know all the problems that our servicemen, soldiers, and officers experience,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
Syrskyi ended the candid interview by thanking Ukraine\u2019s Western allies for their support. Switching from Ukrainian to English, he said: \u201cTogether we are stronger. Together we can win.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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