It is just six months since Gen. Alexander Syrski serves as Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU). That's adequate time to tempt for the first summary and consider the general's future and the condition of his army. Did the Syrian fulfill his duties? What were they like? Or did he simply supply further arguments to his critics, especially the most fierce ones, and his fate, as chief commander, is already doomed?
Syrian replaced General Walerij Załużny, who had entered into conflict with president Volodymyr Zelenski, and most likely had to resign for this reason. Its circumstances and the personality and merit of the Beneficent have caused the Syrian to "be on the mountain" at the entrance. It was suggested that he did not grow up to a predecessor with whom a superb defence operation and reconquist from 2022 were identified.
Furthermore, the fresh commander was burdened with Russian origin (parents and brother inactive surviving in Russia), education and service in the russian army, and, above all, habits derived from it. "Syrski is an aggressive commander for whom the goal is important, no substance what the cost – that's why he's not liked by the soldiers", concluded many war observers. An example of this unceremoniousness was to be persistent, and in the opinion of most analysts ineffective, the defence of Soledar and Bachmut. “This man will bleed out ZSU...”, said the utmost pessimists.
The army of Ukraine was already in a mediocre position at the beginning of February 2024: decimated (by 25% compared to the condition of the spring of 2022), tired (most soldiers served a year or more), struggling with a very serious ammunition crisis, and with the mark of an unsuccessful counteroffensive in Zaporozh, which, in view of social expectations, was about to settle the destiny of the war. Under constant Russian pressure, mainly in Donbasa, which in the winter of 2024 took the form of a large conflict for the small Awdijiwaka. It was there that Syrski was to show his "Soviet uncompromisingness", demanding from the subordinates the defence to the fallen.
Meanwhile, the general amazed the adversaries and ordered the ZSU to retreat from the non-perspective routing. And he later proved repeatedly that he was a commander who did not implement the Stalinist strategy “no step back!” that he preferred maneuvering defenses, allowing the failure of territories, if this way a more effective fight can be taken, in which not only does he inflict serious losses on the opponent, he inactive cares about reducing his own losses. These again – for almost half a year akin to Russian ones – have become importantly lower, which should be regarded as the merit of the commander-in-chief (for we should remember that the strength of armed action has increased, and so in absolute numbers both parties are now suffering losses higher than in the first and second years of the war).
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenski (left) presents fresh credentials to the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces Ukraine to Colonel-General Oleksandrow Syrian after gathering with his fresh military command squad at the Mary's Palace on 10 February 2024 in Kiev.
President Zelenski expected the Syrian General to stabilise the front – and this task was carried out. Corrections to the line course take place – they are the consequence of point Russian force and mentioned maneuvering defence of Ukrainians – but the overall situation is far from collapse. The Russians do not have a chance to execute a serious breach and exit to the Ukrainian rear. However, their forces are moving out, and in the coming weeks it is expected that the fighting possible will fall below the threshold essential to carry out even limited offensive activities.
In May, the Russians attempted to open a fresh front north of Kharkiv – this intention was thwarted by Ukrainians. Importantly, this was done without (probably expected by aggressors) rotation of ZSU units fighting in Donbasa and Zaporozh. The Syrians dealt with a fresh threat without having to weaken another sections of the front. This was besides due to the firm attitude of the general, who, unlike his predecessor, was not afraid to “move the sacred cows”, the brigade “permanently devised”. The Syrian assumes that the fighting burden should be distributed in the army as evenly as possible. Another thing is that at lower levels they frequently realize it wrongly, sending drone operators, logistics operators, all kinds of specialists – but this waste of possible is simply a subject for a separate text.
This stabilisation is besides the consequence of many another factors. The Syrian helped return to the game of the United States and “awaken” Europe, which translated into powerful material support for the ZSU. In this context, the act of mobilization adopted in May, thanks to which a decent stream of recruits enters the barracks again. On the another hand, Russian equipment supplies are moving out, and their weapons manufacture turns out to be a colossal on clay legs, incapable to support the army in conducting a high-intensity war.
The villain might say that under specified circumstances it is adequate not to disturb, but the function of Syrian should not be reduced to non-disturbing. However, it is correct to believe that the general has not yet passed the most crucial test. He confirmed that he "reads" the Russians well, standing at the head of a defensive operation – not only for the last six months, on a national scale, but besides earlier, during the 2022 conflict of Kiev. He proved that something that supposedly burdened him – or russian reasoning – could be useful, especially with the usage of Western operating patterns and techniques. Now 1 should wait for the minute erstwhile this hybridity will manifest itself in an aggressive operation conducted from the commanding position.
Will the General wait? And I am not talking about the possibilities of the SSU (still besides limited), but alternatively about the risks of a political nature. In Ukraine, there is more and more talk about the deficiency of chemistry between Syrian and Zelenski...
