Oleksandr Syrskyi says ‘life and health’ of soldiers is army’s key asset in first statement as armed forces chief

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Ukraine’s newly appointed top general has said a new approach is required to achieve success on the battlefield, in his first public comments since taking command as armed forces chief.

“Only changes and constant improvement of the means and methods of warfare will make it possible to achieve success on this path,” said Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, singling out drones and electronic warfare as examples of new technology that he said would help Ukraine achieve victory.

President’s replacement of Zaluzhnyi with his land forces commander is not seen as a radical departure

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s decision to replace his most senior military commander may solve a political problem, but it is not clear how it can improve Ukraine’s weakening position on the battlefield.

It was clear that the outgoing Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi had lost the confidence of the Ukrainian leader, who had come to be wary of the general’s popularity and saw him as a political threat. By refusing to resign when asked by the president last week, Zaluzhnyi had created an untenable situation at the top.