Russia has almost stopped advancing: Syrsky explained what has changed on the front

Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Ukraine managed to stabilize the front line and break Russia’s ability to advance. He cited among the reasons the heavy losses of Russian troops, the technological development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and strikes on the enemy’s weak points.

Syrsky said this in an interview with the BBC.

According to Syrsky, Russia’s total losses in the war are approximately six times higher than Ukraine’s .

“If you count only the dead, it’s up to 11 times,” he said.

At the same time, the BBC notes that neither Ukraine nor Russia officially publish complete data on the number of military casualties, so it is impossible to independently verify the ratio given by the Syrian.

The former commander-in-chief attributes the current situation on the front to the difference in losses, the development of technology, and the strategy of striking at the weak points of Russian positions while simultaneously deterring the enemy in other directions.

According to Syrsky, in the first half of 2026, Russia managed to capture a total of 61 square kilometers of territory.

“This indicates that the front line has stabilized,” he said.

The BBC also draws attention to the estimates of the Institute for the Study of War. One of the latest ISW reports noted that in September 2026, Russia had lost more territory than it had captured.

Drones cause 80% of Russian losses

Syrsky also rejected critics’ accusations that his approach to command was too “old school” for modern technological warfare.

He stated that it was during his command that the use of drones in the Ukrainian army reached a new level, in particular, strikes at a distance of over two thousand kilometers.

Syrsky also recalled that under his leadership, Ukraine created the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the military.

According to him, drones now account for about 80% of Russia’s losses .

At the same time, the general acknowledged that the Russian army has a significant advantage in a number of types of weapons.

According to his estimate, in 2025 the ratio of aircraft to aerial bombs was about 18 to one in favor of Russia , and the Russian Federation had about two and a half times more artillery systems and ammunition.

Syrsky also stated that Russia has about four million people with military training who it can potentially mobilize.

The Kursk operation was a “necessity”

Separately, Syrskyi commented on the operation of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, which began in August 2024.

He called it a “necessity.”

According to the general, in the summer of 2024, Russian troops were advancing in all main directions and had up to a six-fold superiority in manpower in some areas.

Syrsky believes that the operation in Kursk forced Moscow to shift forces and gave Ukrainian brigades in the east and south time to recover.

He also predicts the further growth of the role of robotic complexes, automated systems, and artificial intelligence in warfare.

“Even conventional weapons are now receiving an artificial intelligence-based control system to expand their capabilities,” Syrsky said.

At the same time, he emphasized that “the role of humans will remain decisive,” since it is humans who must control such systems.

Recall that, according to the General Staff, the losses of the Russian army in September were a record in 2026 and amounted to 46,230 soldiers.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , X , Telegram , and Instagram .