About a quarter of all frontline clashes are initiated by Ukrainian forces, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky said.
Speaking to journalists, Syrsky said Ukraine’s Defense Forces are actively conducting offensive and counteroffensive operations, aimed at keeping Russian troops under constant pressure, inflicting losses, and preventing further advances.
“These tactics are yielding results,” he said, adding that Russian forces achieved no significant operational successes in January.
Syrsky said Ukrainian troops carried out three offensive operations in 2025, two on Russian territory – in the Belgorod and Kursk regions – and one in the Dobropillya sector. He added that these actions disrupted Russia’s plans to seize the Donetsk region and create so-called buffer zones.
According to Syrsky, Ukrainian soldiers prevail in small-arms engagements in about 90% of cases, crediting improved combat training for higher effectiveness and reduced casualties.
He said the sixth edition of Ukraine’s training program has been introduced, extending basic training to 51 days, with an additional adaptation period of up to 14 days. The number of combat-experienced instructors is growing, and most training now takes place in protected facilities.
Syrsky said Russian forces continue advancing along the roughly 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) front line with varying intensity, while battlefield depth has expanded to 15-20 kilometers (9-12 miles) due to widespread drone use.
Ukraine is continuing to expand its Unmanned Systems Forces, integrating drone units into assault regiments and mechanized brigades. Each battalion now includes a drone company, and each brigade has a dedicated drone battalion.
Since the creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces in summer 2025, their share of battlefield impact has risen from 4% to 33%. Drones now account for about 60% of all fire damage on the front, compared with 40% from artillery.
Syrsky said territorial recruitment centers provided about 90% of Ukraine’s mobilized personnel in 2025, with another 10% joining through recruiting centers.
He added that Russia currently has about 711,000-712,000 troops in Ukraine, including reserves, a figure that has remained stable over the past six months.
According to him, Russia has fully met – and even exceeded – its troop recruitment targets.
“This indicates that the level of their losses exceeds their replenishment capabilities. On average, the enemy loses about 1,000-1,100 servicemen every day,” Syrsky added.
Ukraine will continue offensive operations alongside strategic defense, as victory cannot be achieved through defense alone, AFU chief said last month.
In an interview with LB.ua, Syrsky warned that Russia’s strategic goals for 2026 remain unchanged and still target all of Ukraine, with only timelines, troop levels and weapons supplies being adjusted.
He said Ukraine aims to maintain the initiative, forcing Russian forces to divert manpower and resources to counter Ukrainian operations.
He added that Russia plans to mobilize about 409,000 troops in 2026 and form at least 11 new divisions, continuing objectives left unfinished last year. Syrsky also noted Russia’s manpower advantage, citing a mobilization potential of over 20 million and a trained reserve of around 4.5 million.