Ukraine will conduct offensive operations alongside strategic defense in 2026, as remaining solely on the defensive will not secure victory, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview published on Saturday.
“We will conduct a strategic defensive operation, while we understand that there will be no victory in defense. Therefore, accordingly, we will conduct offensive operations,” Syrskyi told LB.ua in the interview.
Syrskyi, assessing the 2025 battlefield, said Russian forces failed to achieve any major objectives despite public announcements of swift victories. He cited Ukrainian actions, including incursions into Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions from March to summer 2025, which diverted up to 70,000 Russian elite troops, and a counteroffensive in the Dobropillia direction that liberated over 430 square kilometers and inflicted more than 13,000 enemy casualties.
Russia maintains a manpower advantage, with a mobilization potential exceeding 20 million and 4.5 million already prepared, according to Syrskyi. He said Moscow recruited over 406,000 personnel in 2025, exceeding targets, but high losses—around 419,000—limited its offensive grouping to approximately 711,000 for much of the year.
For 2026, Syrskyi said Russia plans to conscript 409,000 personnel and form at least 11 new divisions. “In 2026, the Russians plan to conscript 409,000 personnel,” he said.
On technology, Syrskyi described the conflict as “a war of technologies and economies.” Ukraine holds a quality advantage in conventional drones but is catching up in fiber-optic models, which are resistant to electronic warfare. He predicted growth in unmanned ground vehicles and a shift to airborne platforms capable of lifting 130-150 kg for logistics and evacuation.
Syrskyi highlighted Ukraine’s “deep strike” operations, which hit 719 targets in 2025, causing over $15 billion in losses to Russia, primarily in oil production. “Last year, we inflicted losses on the Russians worth $15 billion,” he said.
Regarding peace prospects, Syrskyi said there are no signs Russia is preparing for negotiations. Instead, it is ramping up production, aiming for up to 1,000 drones per day. “The enemy plans to significantly increase production to deploy up to 1,000 drones per day,” he said. “We see no signs that the enemy is preparing for peace negotiations. On the contrary…”
A strategic breakthrough in Ukraine’s favor in 2026 is possible through technological superiority, economic competition, partner support, and domestic production of missiles, lasers, AI systems, and drones, Syrskyi said.
On mobilization, he noted improvements over the past seven months, with better recruitment and reduced unauthorized absences, attributing this to fair processes and humane treatment. Ukrainian losses decreased 13% in 2025, while Russian total casualties over 2024-2025 exceeded 850,000, he added.
Syrskyi reiterated Russia’s unchanged goals: full control of Ukraine, including administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He expressed support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s position on territorial integrity.
The interview was conducted by LB journalist Sonya Koshkina.
