Zelenskyy on performance of Ukraine’s commander-in-chief and Russia’s breakthrough in Kharkiv Oblast: we will deal with details later
Pravda Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he will refrain from assessing the performance of Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), in the context of the Russian breakthrough in Kharkiv Oblast. He noted that these discussions would be held after the war is over. Zelenskyy added that it was under Syrskyi’s command that Ukrainian forces had liberated Kharkiv Oblast and stopped the Russian advance.
Source: Zelenskyy speaking to journalists on 15 July
Zelenskyy was asked how he assessed Syrskyi’s performance, given the Russian breakthrough in Kharkiv Oblast in May.
Quote: “Syrskyi faces a serious challenge. We had waited for weapons and the vote on the [military aid] package for almost eight months. I don’t want to make comparisons. I treat everyone with due respect. Everyone is doing or has done their job in their position.
It’s difficult to speculate on what might have happened if the AFU leadership had not shifted [from Valerii Zaluzhnyi to Syrskyi]. And, frankly, I don’t want to talk about it. These are post-war issues and conversations. We must respect and be grateful to everyone who fights for Ukraine and defends the country.
I don’t think that if anyone was in Syrskyi’s place, there would have been no breakthrough (the May breakthrough of Russian forces in Kharkiv Oblast). I believe it would have happened because the Russians wanted it. They had a task to come in and occupy Kharkiv.
Syrskyi’s significant advantage in this situation is that he knows Kharkiv. It was under his leadership that Kharkiv Oblast was liberated, the region was liberated, and a successful operation was conducted there.
[The Russians] were stopped. [Ukrainian forces] prevented them from occupying Kharkiv without a [Western military aid] package: great job. We’ll deal with the details when we have a break.”
Support UP or become our patron!