Commander Syrskyi highlights Ukrainian forces tactical gains in March
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi (president.gov.ua)
The main objectives of Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) remain to hold defensive lines and stabilize the situation in critical areas of the front. In March, significant progress was made in the Pokrovsk direction, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi reports.
Frontline situation in March
"Thanks to effective command decisions and the resilience of Ukrainian soldiers, this task has been partially fulfilled, particularly concerning the Pokrovsk direction. Here, in the operational zone of the Donetsk Operational-Tactical Group, the enemy is concentrating its main offensive efforts but is effectively stalled," Syrskyi wrote.
According to him, Ukrainian forces are employing active defense tactics where possible. On some front sections, they are even advancing, improving their tactical positions. The AFU has reclaimed dozens of positions and is tying down significant enemy forces.
Since the beginning of March, the Defense Forces’ artillery has executed approximately 100,000 fire missions, while drone operators have carried out more than 81,700 combat-specific tasks, including 158 strikes using DeepStrike systems.
"During a briefing, I listened to reports from military command officials regarding critical issues — unit staffing and combat capability restoration, formation of new army corps, logistics, and equipment repairs. I have set specific tasks for April," the Commander-in-Chief stated.
Improvements in the Armed Forces
Syrskyi emphasized the need to increase the number of fiber-optic drones resistant to enemy electronic warfare systems. He also set objectives for staffing combat brigades with personnel, highlighting the importance of high-quality training, as it directly impacts the survival of soldiers.
In particular, the combat training course has been updated, now lasting 1.5 months. Additionally, a mandatory adaptation period for new recruits in combat brigades has been introduced.
Syrskyi noted that these measures are already yielding positive results, as the number of casualties has decreased compared to previous months.
"However, there is still much work to be done. We must achieve the highest standards of training. I also highlighted development challenges and tasked commanders with maximizing the combat capabilities of brigades," he wrote.
Another crucial issue discussed at the meeting was the maintenance and preparation of weaponry for the spring-summer season. This includes enhancing the protection of various military equipment against FPV drones and maximizing the combat effectiveness of available technology.
Russian losses in Ukraine
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian forces have suffered substantial losses in the war against Ukraine.
For example, in the last 24 hours from March 30 to 31, the Russian army lost over 1,200 soldiers and 30 artillery systems on the front lines.
Earlier in March, Syrskyi reported that Russian losses in personnel had reached approximately 91,000 troops.
