Syrskyi: Main Goal of Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2026 Is to Deplete the Enemy and Build Up Reserves

Ukraine’s main goal for 2026 is to conduct a strategic defensive operation aimed at depleting the Russian army.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated this in an interview with the ICTV television channel.

Another important task for the Defense Forces within the framework of this operation is to contain the enemy and prevent the loss of territory.

According to Syrskyi, the military is also working to create conditions for conducting large-scale offensive operations and building up reserves.

In addition, high-quality training of servicemen who are joining the ranks of the Defense Forces is essential.

The Commander-in-Chief noted that it is also important to conduct counteroffensive operations in areas where “the enemy is weak,” with the aim of liberating territories and maintaining operational and strategic initiative.

“Right now, the enemy is playing by our rules. That is, they are forced to adapt and concentrate their efforts where we are advancing,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine noted.

He also added that Ukrainian forces in the Oleksandrivka sector (the junction of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions) have liberated 480 square kilometers of territory.

Syrskyi explained that the Russians were forced to redeploy part of their forces and equipment from the Pokrovsk and Ocheretine sectors to this sector to contain Ukrainian offensive operations.

“The success lies precisely in the liberation of territory. As of today, this amounts to 480 square kilometers. This exceeds the results we achieved during the Dobropillia counteroffensive operation. If you recall, during that operation we liberated over 430 square kilometers of territory,” the Commander-in-chief stated.

According to him, the invaders had planned to launch a large-scale offensive on 13 main fronts starting March 1, but this was thwarted by the actions of the Defense Forces.

For example, recently, fighters from the Ronina unmanned systems battalion of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade, together with neighboring units, destroyed a Russian column of more than 10 armored vehicles that was attempting to break through Ukrainian positions in Zaporizhzhia.