Russia has recently altered its combat strategy on the front lines, moving away from large-scale offensives in favor of smaller, rapid raids aimed at gradually wearing down Ukraine’s defenses, according to Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Syrskyi noted that Russian units are now operating in small groups of four to six soldiers. These teams infiltrate Ukrainian lines to attack supply routes, then retreat before Ukrainian forces can mount a counterattack. This tactic, described by Syrskyi as a “thousand cuts” strategy, involves delivering numerous minor strikes to gradually exhaust an opponent’s resources and morale.
“Since the beginning of summer, there has been a change in the enemy’s tactics,” he stated. “Their main task is to penetrate as deeply as possible into our territory, to withdraw, regroup, and advance again — then attack targets deep inside to paralyze our logistics and troop rotations.”
Instead of making significant territorial gains, Russian forces have been seen flagging small pieces of land to demonstrate “progress,” a move Syrskyi characterized primarily as a propaganda effort.
Intense fighting is currently reported around key areas, particularly Dobropillia and Novopavlivka in the Donetsk region, as well as parts of Dnipropetrovsk. The front line now extends for about 1,250 kilometers (or 777 miles), increasing the pressure on Ukrainian military forces.
Recent reports indicated that Russia claims to have captured Yunakivka, a small village in the Sumy region. However, sources suggest that over the past year, Russia has managed to acquire only about 1 percent of Ukraine’s territory, while maintaining control over roughly one-fifth of the country.
In the vicinity of Pokrovsk, Syrskyi revealed that Russian troops made gains of approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) before being encircled near the Kazennyi Torets river. In recent weeks, Ukraine has managed to reclaim or clear around 360 square kilometers (139 square miles).
In response to this evolving situation, Ukraine is ramping up its air defense capabilities. The military is enhancing its defenses with the deployment of helicopters, small aircraft, and new interceptor systems that reportedly neutralize about 70 percent of incoming drone threats. Additionally, fixed-wing aircraft equipped with machine guns are being tested, while a newly established drone unit has conducted 85 strikes inside Russia within a mere two months, effectively targeting military facilities and munitions factories.
Syrskyi noted that these attacks have significantly disrupted fuel supplies and hampered logistical operations for Russian forces. With winter approaching, and expectations that Russia may intensify strikes against Ukraine’s power infrastructure, he depicted the conflict as a protracted struggle in which both sides are continually adapting their tactics to outlast one another.
