Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi has made his first public statement since leaving office, APA reports.
Syrskyi said he was handing over to his successor an army capable of conducting offensive operations as well as defending the country.
"Two years ago, the army was engaged in difficult defensive battles. Today, it is on the offensive. I am handing over to my successor not only a defensive army, but one that is also on the offensive," he said.
The former commander-in-chief noted that under his leadership, Ukrainian forces have liberated 700 square kilometers of territory this year.
According to Syrskyi, one of his first decisions after taking office in February 2024 was to organize the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Avdiivka in order to preserve the lives of servicemen.
He also stated that during his tenure, Ukrainian forces halted Russian offensives in the Kharkiv and Sumy directions, while the Kursk operation marked the first time fighting was carried onto Russian territory.
Syrskyi added that under his command, the Ukrainian military established a separate branch for unmanned systems, expanded its air defense capabilities, and reorganized its structure based on a corps system.
On July 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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