The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian armed forces admitted that the country is under increasing pressure from Russia’s relentless advances on a front line of more than 1,000km.
The Ukrainian armed forces are facing one of the strongest attacks by the Russian military since February 2022, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said at a meeting with a Czech military delegation led by Chief of the General Staff Karel Rehka.
“The continued active combat operations in certain directions require a constant replenishment of resources. The Ukrainian army is facing one of the most powerful attacks by the Russian army since February 2022,” Syrskyi said.
In addition, Mr. Syrskyi also informed Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown that the situation on the front line remains very difficult for Ukraine. He said that Russian forces have a significant advantage in artillery.
The two sides also discussed the needs of the Ukrainian military, he added. General Syrskyi thanked Mr. Brown for Washington’s recent military aid package to Kiev.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in a situation where the military ratio is 8/1 in favor of Russia, Kiev forces should retreat.
In addition, the head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, Stanislav Kravchenko, said on October 29 that there had been a significant increase in desertions in the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian MP Maryana Bezuglaya also indirectly acknowledged the personnel problems of the Ukrainian army. She said that the General Staff first ordered the transfer of 20% of the medical staff to infantry units. Shortly after, Mr. Syrskyi ordered the transfer of technical personnel from the military aviation to the infantry.
On October 2, Russia announced that it had taken control of Kurakhovka in Donetsk and Pershotravnevoye in Kharkov. Russia has been steadily gaining momentum in recent weeks, demonstrating its superiority in the war of attrition against its opponents.
Moscow believes that controlling Kurakhovka will allow Russian forces to increase pressure on Ukrainian forces on the Kurakhovo front, aiming to control all of Donetsk.
Russia’s recent advances reflect Moscow’s overwhelming advantage in resources over its opponents in a war of attrition. Russia appears to be accelerating its offensive to gain as much territory as possible as winter approaches and fighting conditions become more difficult.
