(RightWing.org) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suddenly dismissed former General Valerii Zaluzhnyi in February, citing a “reboot of the system” in the face of the nation’s military setbacks in defending itself from Russia’s ongoing invasion. A presidential decree installed General Oleksandr Syrskyi as the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces nearly simultaneously.
In a March 29 interview, Syrskyi discussed conducting a war without adequate munitions, key plans to reboot the military and its support systems, and warned Russia about fatal consequences for another Kharkiv offensive attempt.
General Warns Russia Against Threatened Kharkiv Grab
Syrskyi sat down with Dmytro Shkurko of Ukrinform for an in-depth interview. The journalist recalled that the general played a critical role in liberating Kharkiv from Russian occupation earlier in the two-year conflict. The writer mentioned that several Western media sources had suggested that Russia was amassing troops and arms to make another attempt to capture Ukraine’s second-largest city, and he asked about the validity of the threat.
The Ukrainian leader told Shkurko that his forces took all information about Russia’s offensive preparations seriously and began planning strategic responses. He remarked that they had the advantage of successful combat experience in the region. He warned, “If the Russians move there again, Kharkiv will become a fatal city for them.”
Plans to Reboot the System
In keeping with Zelenskyy’s mandate, Syrskyi also talked about some of his plans to reboot the system and shore up deficiencies. Compared to Russia, Ukraine is a smaller country with a smaller fighting force. Yet, over the two-year conflict, its troops and volunteers from other nations have won back territory from Russia and held the larger force at bay.
However, Syrskyi admitted that the pace has exhausted frontline troops who need rest and treatment. He implemented rotations to give fighters some much-needed time. Additionally, the reallocation and realignment of internal resources reduced the number of recruits that the Ukrainian Army projected it would need to far fewer than the 500,000 originally projected.
However, the general, President Zelenskyy, and other Ukrainian officials have consistently pointed to munitions and air defense systems shortages that have affected the military’s ability to regain and hold ground and compromised troop safety. The leaders, frustrated by their inability to control the supply chain, have begun manufacturing some of their own munitions and arms systems.
While the small nation still needs arms and support from Western allies, it has begun to manufacture and arm some artillery units with the Ukrainian-made 155mm Bohdana howitzer, complete with an automated firing system. Ukrainian manufacturers have also started making repair parts for US-made M777 howitzers, allowing field repairs.
Syrskyi pointed out that Ukrainians continue to use ingenuity and gumption to remain self-sufficient and autonomous. When asked what he thought was the most crucial aspect of the war, he said, “[T]he main thing for us right now is to save people.” He added, “Metal can be restored, but the people who died cannot be brought back.”
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