Syrsky Issued His First Statement Following His Resignation
- 22.07.2026, 10:12
The former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine spoke about achievements in the war.
Ukraine’s defense forces are on the offensive and have every chance of prevailing in the war against Russia.
This statement was made by former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, according to RBC-Ukraine reports, citing his Telegram post.
“Soldiers. Ukrainians. Today I am stepping down from my post as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Before handing over command, I would like to say a few words. For every officer, this is the greatest responsibility—to lead the troops during a major war,” Syrsky emphasized.
He noted that he had witnessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the very first day in 2014 and had devoted all these past years to stopping the enemy.
“In February and March 2022, I had the honor of commanding the defense of Kyiv, and thanks to our joint efforts, the capital held out. That same spring, the threat of a full-scale siege of Kharkiv was averted. Then came the offensive in the Kharkiv region, when, in a matter of weeks, we liberated Balakliya, Izyum, and Kupiansk,” Syrsky added.
In addition, he recalled that in the Donetsk region, joint efforts succeeded in destroying the most combat-effective unit of the Russian army—the Wagner Group.
The former commander-in-chief noted that he took command of the army in February 2024—precisely when the defense of Avdiivka was underway. Ukrainian soldiers found themselves semi-encircled.
“One of my first orders in that position was to withdraw from the city in an organized manner. It was a difficult decision. But I made it because I had one main priority: saving people’s lives. And what followed was a year that changed the course of this war. Together, we halted the enemy’s offensive in the Kharkiv region. We prevented their advance into the Sumy region. And we carried out the Kursk Operation—for the first time in this war, we took the fight onto enemy territory,” Syrsky emphasized.
According to the former commander-in-chief, his goal was never to occupy Russian territories, but merely to thwart the enemy’s planned offensive against Sumy and Kharkiv.
“And most importantly—the state in which I am handing over the battlefield. This year, under my command, 700 square kilometers of our land have been liberated. The army, which two years ago was engaged in a grueling defensive battle, is now on the offensive. I am handing over to my successor an army that is not only holding its ground but is also on the offensive. And I sincerely hope that this offensive will continue,” Syrskyi told Drapaty.
Against the backdrop of his resignation, the former commander-in-chief expressed his gratitude to all the soldiers and Ukrainians who are doing everything they can to ensure Ukraine’s victory.
“Our country will prevail if everyone does their part with the same tenacity as the Ukrainian military. Glory to Ukraine!” Syrsky concluded.