Zelenskyy on performance of Ukraine's commander-in-chief and Russia's breakthrough in Kharkiv Oblast: we will deal with details later

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."

Background: 

• On the night of 9-10 May, the Russian army launched a second offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, which the defence forces of Ukraine liberated in a brilliant operation in September 2022.
• Despite Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence's advanced public statements about the offensive, the defence forces were, to some extent, unprepared for it.
• The Russians crossed the state border of Ukraine at two points at once: near the villages of Strilecha, Krasne, Borysivka (the direction of the offensive from the state border to the village of Lyptsi) and the villages of Pletenivka, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche (from the state border to the city of Vovchansk). Moreover, they were able to develop their offensive in depth and breadth.
• During the first week of their offensive, the Russians captured approximately ten villages in Kharkiv Oblast, having moved 4-6 kilometres into Ukrainian territory.

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