Ukrainian Forces Regaining Territory
In May, Ukrainian defense forces reclaimed more territory than they lost for the first time in 2023, reversing a three-year trend of Russian military advances. This shift comes just days before Commander Syrskiy’s interview with The Times, where he noted that Ukrainian long-range drones attacked an oil refinery in Moscow.
Despite these developments, Syrskiy cautioned that he cannot definitively say the war is at a turning point. He highlighted that the current advantage for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) may be fleeting, as sudden breakthroughs in technology could significantly alter the course of the conflict.
Syrskiy emphasized that the ongoing competition between technologies, economies, and resources has taken on the characteristics of a race. It is crucial to maintain superiority in all these areas.
“We hope for a moment when the enemy mobilizes all its forces, resources, and actions, after which exhaustion could lead to a turning point,” Syrskiy stated.
Context
- Since December 2025, the Russian army has been losing initiative on the battlefield, according to remarks made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of May.
- In mid-June, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedrov expressed optimism that Ukrainian forces would have an advantage at the front within the next six months.
- Recently, Russian regions and areas under temporary occupation have experienced regular shelling. In the early hours of June 18, Moscow faced the most significant drone attack of the war, prompting Zelensky to urge Russians to end the conflict.
- On June 24, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for humanitarian aid Jeremy Levin stated that the U.S. believes Ukraine is currently winning the war.
