The Ukrainian military has intensified counterattacks along the front line and, for the first time, surpassed Russian forces in the number of daily assaults, Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said.
In an interview with Militarniy outlet published Monday, he revealed that the intensity and number of Russian combat operations have decreased.
“For example, yesterday (however, the general did not name the exact day – ed.), was characterized by the fact that the number of our offensive operations for the first time exceeded the number of offensive operations of the enemy,” Syrsky said.
“But we cannot relax, because the enemy is strong,” he added.
Is Russia concentrating forces in key directions?
Syrsky said Russian forces have concentrated tens of thousands of troops in the Pokrovsk direction.
“In the Pokrovsky direction, the enemy has concentrated about 99 thousand personnel,” he said, describing it as the largest Russian grouping across all sectors of the front.
“This is a huge number. We are doing everything to reduce this number,” he added.
Is there a real threat from Belarus?
AFU’s chief warned that Russia is considering launching operations against Ukraine from Belarus.
“A possible operation in the north is real. We know the data that the Russian General Staff is currently actively calculating and planning offensive operations from the north,” Syrsky said.
He added that if such plans are implemented, the front line would expand.
How do losses compare?
According to Syrsky, Russian forces are suffering significantly heavier losses than Ukraine.
“The enemy’s losses are many times greater. The total losses on the front are 3.5 times greater,” he said.
He added that the disparity in fatalities is even higher.
“The number of those killed, depending on the day, reaches seven or nine times. This is the ratio of those killed,” Syrsky noted.
What changes are planned for Ukraine’s military?
Syrsky said large-scale reforms are being prepared, including increased pay, new contracts, and mechanisms for dismissal from service.
The minimum monthly financial support for servicemen is expected to be set at 30,000 hryvnias (approximately $683), with additional payments for those directly involved in combat – particularly in mechanized, motorized infantry, airborne assault, and marine units.
He added that the positions most urgently needed on the battlefield will be prioritized for financial incentives.
These measures are expected to provide additional incentives for recruitment, with approval anticipated by the end of May, he said.
Will demobilization be introduced?
Full demobilization will only be possible after the war ends, Syrsky said, but mechanisms for release during martial law are being developed.
“People who fight, especially for a long time, must have a way out and the opportunity to have a reprieve, depending on the period they spent on the battlefield,” he said.
Discussions on these mechanisms are ongoing within military units.
What new contracts are being considered?
The military is also preparing new contract formats with varying service terms:
- 6-9 months – for personnel previously discharged due to health reasons who wish to return
- 10 months – for current servicemen
- 2 years or more – for volunteer recruits
Those who refuse to sign a contract will be mobilized into the army.