Syrskyi: In whatever status I may be, I will serve Ukraine until Victory

«Warriors. Ukrainians. Today I am leaving the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Before handing over command, I want to say a few words.

For every officer, it is the greatest responsibility to lead an army during a great war. I have seen this war from its first day in 2014, lived on the front, and know the price of every liberated kilometer of Ukrainian land.

In February-March 2022, I had the honor to command the defense of Kyiv, and through our joint efforts, the capital stood firm. That same spring, the threat of complete encirclement of Kharkiv was removed.

Then there was the offensive in Kharkiv region, when in a matter of weeks we liberated Balakliia, Izyum, and Kupyansk. Later, in Donetsk region, we destroyed the most combat-ready part of the Russian army – PMC "Wagner".

I took command of the army in February 2024, at a very difficult time. The defense of Avdiivka was ongoing. Our units were semi-encircled. One of my first orders in this position was to organize a withdrawal from the city. It was a difficult decision. But I made it because for me there was one main priority - preserving people's lives.

And then came a year that changed the course of this war. Together we stopped the enemy's offensive in Kharkiv region. Prevented its offensive in Sumy region. And conducted the Kursk operation - for the first time in this war, we transferred combat operations to the enemy's territory.

I want this to be clearly recorded: our goal was never to occupy foreign land. Our goal was to disrupt the enemy's prepared offensive on Sumy and Kharkiv, to divert his most combat-ready troops, and to replenish the exchange fund to bring our people back from captivity. All of this was accomplished.

We changed the army not only on the battlefield but also at its core. We were the first in the world to create a separate branch of service - the Unmanned Systems Forces. We developed them from individual units into a system that today makes the enemy feel that he has no safe rear. We built a new air defense system: created a separate command for unmanned air defense systems, formed regular units of interceptor drone crews, and built an echeloned system for covering the sky over the rear. What was recently an experiment by enthusiasts today shoots down what was considered indestructible every night.

We closed the Black Sea port in Novorossiysk, systematically destroying the enemy's "shadow fleet".

We transitioned the army to a corps structure, brought combat officers into headquarters, and made it a rule: the path to leadership positions goes through the front.

While liberating Ukrainian territories, we conducted a successful Dobropillia operation and an offensive operation in the Oleksandrivka direction. We continue to contain the enemy's advance in the main directions and conduct offensive operations in separate sectors of the front.

About some of the operations we carried out over these years, I do not have the right to speak even today. History will tell about them. I will only say one thing: the enemy remembered them.

And most importantly - in what condition I am handing over the battlefield.

This year, under my command, 700 square kilometers of our land were liberated. The army, which two years ago was conducting a difficult defense, is now on the offensive.

I am handing over to my successor an army that not only holds the defense but is also on the offensive - with initiative, with structure, with people who know how to defeat the enemy. And I sincerely hope that this offensive will continue. Everything is in place for that.

I thank every soldier, sergeant, and officer with whom I have gone through these years. I bow my head low before the families of our fallen.

I said it before and I will repeat it today: my work is war. Positions change, but this principle does not. In whatever status I may be, I will serve Ukraine until Victory.

For a long time, attempts were made to impose the idea that Ukrainians are incapable of fighting. We proved that this is not true. Ukraine is defended by a heroic people.

Our country will stand if everyone does their job as selflessly as the Ukrainian army does,» wrote Oleksandr Syrskyi.

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