Syrskyi Micromanages Troops and Ignore Losses

Despite successful strikes in Russia’s rear and significant enemy personnel losses, Russian forces continue to advance. Amid growing concerns over a potential summer offensive, criticism is mounting against Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. In a recently published article, Ukrainska Pravda spoke with several unnamed sources within the Ministry of Defense about Syrskyi’s leadership and his strained relationship with the commander of the Ground Forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi.

Syrskyi wants to be in control of everything

“Instead of planning strategic and operational actions, Syrskyi is engaged in writing combat orders for restoring positions at the squad level. The General Staff, in violation of logic, common sense, and regulatory documents, sends coordinates specifying where to place a squad’s position. Determining a squad’s position is a task for a platoon commander at most. Moreover, these orders come with a clarification: if you don’t place the position there, you will face criminal liability,” one well-informed source in the Defense Forces told Ukrainska Pravda.

According to sources close to Ukrainska Pravda, the Ministry of Defense proposed that Syrskyi withdraw from unfavorable positions near Toretsk and reestablish defensive lines closer to Kostiantynivka. The move was intended to prevent potential encirclement and free up much-needed forces for other areas. Syrskyi, however, declined the proposal.

“Because how can we possibly leave something behind? How can we — I emphasize — be forced to abandon a settlement? And the fact that the front line could actually become shorter due to the terrain features, such as a water obstacle like a reservoir, doesn’t interest anyone,” one well-informed source in the Defense Forces told Ukrainska Pravda.

Drapatyi had only limited powers

Between Syrskyi and Drapatyi, the working relationship is cold. The Commander-in-Chief often considers his own management decisions to be the best and sidelines Drapatyi from part of his authority.

Some of UP sources suggest that there is a difference in views between them regarding the future actions of the Defense Forces: Syrskyi believes that the Ukrainian army should go on the offensive, while Drapatyi thinks there aren’t enough resources for offensive operations and that it’s better to take up defensive positions. Others are convinced that Syrskyi, or the President’s Office, fears competition from Drapatyi, as he has a reputation among the troops as a humane and strong commander.

“When Syrskyi was the commander of the ‘Khortytsia’ group, he had significantly more authority than Drapatyi does now. He was delegated the power to appoint any official in the Ground Forces; he alone decided where reinforcements would go, where reserves would be sent. Meanwhile, Drapatyi is working with minimal resources. Syrskyi still decides where 10, 20, 100 people go after finishing at the training center, who joins which corps — even though this should be handled by the Ground Forces. He is deliberately and consciously tying Drapatyi’s hands.” one of the previously mentioned sources shared to UP.

Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted his resignation over the tragedy at the 239th Training Range Center, where a Russian strike killed soldiers from a training battalion on June 1, 2025. His resignation latter has not yet been accepted by Syrskyi.