According to Ukrinform, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported this on Telegram.
“We have taken stock of the first half of 2026—another stage in the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s arduous struggle for the freedom and independence of our state,” Syrskyi noted.
According to the commander-in-chief, “the enemy attempted to launch a large-scale offensive but was effectively unable to achieve any of its stated objectives, despite having nearly double the number of personnel and equipment. Whereas the Russian army previously conducted active offensive operations on 13 operational fronts, there are now at most six or seven such fronts remaining.”
As Syrskyi reported, “Ukrainian troops continue their defensive operation, combining it with stabilization measures, and in certain sectors, they are conducting active operations and maintaining the operational initiative. Currently, the ratio of our offensive actions to the enemy's is approximately 40 to 60. It is precisely thanks to the active operations of the Defense Forces in the first half of 2026 that the pace of Russian troop advances has more than halved.”
At the same time, the commander-in-chief noted that the enemy’s average monthly losses in killed and wounded amount to about 32,000 service members.
“We are consistently implementing a strategy to wear down the Russian aggressor. In terms of the pace of advancement, the two sides have effectively reached parity. There remains a steady trend toward an increasing ratio of territory liberated by the Ukrainian Defense Forces to the areas where the enemy manages to advance,” Syrskyi reported.
At the same time, the commander-in-chief noted, “We must not underestimate the enemy. A turning point in the war is still a long way off. The aggressor has not abandoned its plans for the complete occupation of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, seeks to expand its offensive operations in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, and aims to create and expand a buffer zone in the northern regions of Ukraine. The intensity of missile and drone strikes, the use of guided aerial bombs, and the number of crimes against the civilian population are on the rise.”
“That is precisely why the Armed Forces of Ukraine are consistently building up their capabilities to give the enemy a fitting rebuff and ultimately force the Kremlin to accept a just peace on our terms,” Syrskyi stated.
According to him, over the past six months, 697 targets within the Russian Federation have been struck using Deep Strike capabilities. The direct and indirect economic losses inflicted on the enemy are estimated at no less than $6.1 billion.
The Middle Strike campaign is also proving effective, Syrskyi emphasized. He noted that 7,028 enemy targets have been struck during this period.
According to the commander-in-chief, the artillery carried out more than 456,000 fire missions. The Missile Forces launched more than 1,140 strikes, the Air Force carried out more than 1,100 strikes, and support units carried out about 1,400 strikes.
During the meeting, several problematic issues were analyzed in detail, particularly regarding the operational structure of brigades in defense and the excessive time servicemembers spend in forward positions.
Syrskyi emphasized that “commanders are required to find opportunities to rotate personnel at least once every 60 days. This is a matter of the lives and health of our soldiers, their combat readiness, and fair treatment of personnel.”
The commander-in-chief also heard reports on the performance of the Naval Forces, logistical support, the support system, the training and recovery of units, and the state of law and order within the troops.
In particular, Syrskyi noted that, based on the results of the first half of the year, the number of criminal offenses within the troops had decreased by 12 percent.
“I have set ambitious goals for the coming period,” Syrskyi reported.
The commander-in-chief thanked every soldier, sergeant, and officer for their daily, grueling work and emphasized: “It is thanks to you that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are not only holding back the enemies but also inflicting devastating losses on them, advancing, and liberating Ukrainian territory.”
As reported by Ukrinform, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the Russian army is showing signs of exhaustion but retains significant offensive capabilities.
Photo: Oleksandr Syrskyi/Telegram
