Ukraine's army chief Syrskyi outlines army mission and personal priority
Oleksandr Syrskyi (photo: Facebook)
Preserving infantry lives as much as possible through modern technology is the mission of Ukraine's army, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi says.
Today, May 6, Infantry Day is celebrated in Ukraine. On this occasion, Syrskyi congratulated Ukrainian service members, emphasizing their key role in deterring Russian aggression.
"Today we honor the infantry — soldiers of rifle, mechanized, motorized infantry, assault, and mountain assault units, who hold the shield of all Europe, stopping the advance of the Russian horde," he said.
He considers it his task to preserve the infantry as much as possible.
"This means providing it with new technologies, in particular unmanned aerial and ground systems," Syrskyi said.
The Commander-in-Chief emphasized that the development and scaling of innovations in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is his personal priority.
He thanked the military for their courage, resilience, and loyalty to the oath, and also honored the memory of the fallen defenders.
"We remember all our brothers and sisters — Ukrainian infantry soldiers who, in the fight for the independence and freedom of the Ukrainian people, gave the most valuable thing — their lives!" Syrskyi stressed.
Infantry Day: What this holiday is
Infantry Day in Ukraine is celebrated annually on May 6.
This professional military holiday was introduced by a presidential decree in 2019 to honor the courage and heroism of soldiers of mechanized, motorized infantry, and mountain assault units of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The date was not chosen by chance. It was on May 6, 1648, that the Battle of Zhovti Vody took place — the first victory of the Cossacks in the liberation war led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
On this day, St. George the Dragon Slayer, who is considered the patron saint of warriors, is also honored.
Infantry is often called the heart of the army.
These units are the first to take the enemy's blow and the last to leave their positions. Since 2014, Ukrainian infantry have been fighting in the hottest spots — in Donbas, Mariupol, Avdiivka, and Bakhmut.
They took part in the liberation of Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions in the spring of 2022, as well as in battles in the Kharkiv region and during the liberation of Kherson.
Who are the infantry soldiers
An infantry soldier is a serviceman who fights directly on the ground. In the Armed Forces of Ukraine, these can be riflemen, grenade launcher operators, sappers, snipers, or reconnaissance troops.
Their service is one of the hardest: infantry soldiers operate in difficult conditions, often without shelter, under constant fire, and with minimal rest.
