Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the operational situation on the front remains difficult, but Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy, stabilize the situation in the most threatened areas, and inflict heavy losses on Russian troops.
According to Syrskyi, Russian occupation forces lost about 28,500 personnel in September. The fiercest battles are ongoing in the Lyman, Pokrovsk, Dobropillia, and Novopavlivka sectors. Ukrainian troops are conducting a counteroffensive operation in the Dobropillia area, where airborne and assault units are successfully halting and pushing back Russian forces that had planned to seize the entire Donetsk region.
“Our defense is active. I thank our soldiers for their resilience and effectiveness,” Syrskyi said.
He noted that over the past month, the enemy has increased the number of air attacks by 1.3 times. Despite this, the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defense remains at around 74%. Syrskyi stressed the need to strengthen the protection of rear energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and logistics routes.
The Commander-in-Chief also reported progress in Ukraine’s DeepStrike program: in September, Ukrainian forces carried out 70 strikes on Russian territory, targeting facilities producing fuel, lubricants, and explosives. As a result, oil refining in Russia has decreased by 21%.
Syrskyi announced the creation of a new branch of the Armed Forces — unmanned air defense systems within the Air Force — as well as improvements to the structure of assault troops and the formation of a Cyber Forces Command.
Reforms to optimize Ukraine’s military command system are also underway. The Joint Operational and Territorial Commands have been dissolved, and their functions transferred to groupings of forces based on operational commands. The Joint Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive its own sector of the front with subordinate army corps.
During a working meeting, Syrskyi heard reports on counter-drone defense, the restoration of combat readiness, equipment repair, and mobilization. He outlined key tasks for October, emphasizing that Ukraine’s Armed Forces are working around the clock to stand firm and defend the country’s freedom and independence.
“Once again, I thank my brothers and sisters in arms for their dedication, bravery, and professionalism. Glory to Ukraine!” Syrskyi concluded.