"Gradually pushing occupiers out": Ukraine's military chief Syrskyi gives update on situation in and around Kupiansk

Anastasia Prots - 17 July, 16:20

Photo: Syrskyi on social media

Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi has said Ukrainian troops are carrying out counter-sabotage operations and gradually pushing Russian forces out of the areas of Kupiansk where they still maintain a presence.

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook

Quote: "The enemy continues to attack with small infantry groups and is attempting to infiltrate the urban area. The defence forces are carrying out counter-sabotage operations, destroying enemy groups and gradually pushing the occupiers out of the areas where they still maintain a presence.

I would separately highlight the well-coordinated interaction of all defence force elements involved in carrying out tasks in this sector. It is precisely this coordinated action between units that allows us to detect the enemy in time and inflict losses on it."

Details: Syrskyi said he was working in Kharkiv Oblast with troop groupings and units carrying out combat tasks on the Kupiansk front.

Together with the command of the 10th Army Corps and unit commanders, he discussed the operational situation and further steps to improve it inside the city and around it.

Syrskyi also reported that he made decisions on reinforcing Ukrainian troops. The priority is additional fire capabilities, including strike drone systems.

He added that the situation on the front remains difficult, but Ukrainian troops are holding their positions and continuing to destroy the Russians.

Background:

On 16 July, former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said he called for Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, to be replaced, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not agree. According to Fedorov, all the Defence Ministry's proposals to improve the armed forces' operations on the front line encountered resistance from the commander-in-chief.
Oleksandr Syrsky responded to criticism aimed at him by Mykhailo Fedorov and said he hopes Fedorov will remain on Ukraine's team.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on the upcoming changes at the Defence Ministry, acknowledged that Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi have been unable to work together effectively and that problems on the battlefield, in military brigades and with mobilisation remain unresolved.
Later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he will propose that Parliament appoint Yevhen Khmara as defence minister. Khmara, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), has been tasked by the president with acting as Ukraine's defence minister in the interim.
A protest in support of acting Defence Minister Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and a number of Ukrainian cities. Participants are asking the authorities to reinstate Fedorov in the new government.
On 16 July, Ukrainska Pravda sources among military and law enforcement personnel said that following Fedorov's dismissal Andrii Yermak, former head of the Office of the President, visited Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi's command post in a frontline oblast.

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