Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has outlined the armed forces’ goals for 2026, saying Ukrainian troops will continue asymmetric operations against Russian forces — tactics he says are delivering results.
Syrskyi said Ukraine is planning new offensive operations because a purely defensive posture cannot deliver victory, he told lb.ua.
Russia’s strategic plan to occupy Ukraine has not changed, he said, though timelines, available weaponry and manpower have.
“Therefore, we will conduct a strategic defensive operation; at the same time, we understand you cannot win by defense alone. Accordingly, we will carry out offensive operations and fight to maintain operational initiative, because that forces the enemy to commit and withdraw significant manpower, weapons and ammunition to contain our active actions,” Syrskyi said.
Asked whether a turning point in the war is possible this year, he said it could come under several conditions: achieving a technological edge, winning the economic contest, sustained Western support, and establishing domestic arms production. He believes Ukraine has grounds to meet these conditions.
In 2025, Russia occupied 4,336 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory - about 0.72% of the country’s total area.
