Syrsky made a statement on the third anniversary of the war.

Today, February 24, marks three years since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, noted that this phase of the war is a continuation of the struggle for independence that has been ongoing for 11 years.

This information was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Facebook of Syrskyi.

"The world did not believe we would stand firm, but the Ukrainian people are resiliently withstanding the enemy's blows. We have defeated the Russian offensive group, liberated northern Ukraine, the Kharkiv region, and Kherson," he stated.

According to him, the defense forces have reclaimed over 50% of the territories occupied after February 24, 2022. He also emphasized the importance of asymmetric actions by Ukrainian troops, particularly the Kursk operation, which prevented a new offensive on the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

The Commander-in-Chief reported that over the three years, the enemy has suffered significant losses. The adversary has lost nearly 870,000 soldiers and officers, more than 10.1 thousand tanks, 21.1 thousand armored combat vehicles, and 23.3 thousand artillery systems.

Ukrainian forces are striking deep into the enemy's rear, destroying weapon depots, airfields, and military enterprises. He noted that the Russian Black Sea Fleet has practically ceased to exist: "We have driven its remnants into the ports of Novorossiysk."

The contribution of Ukrainian engineers and IT specialists to the development of drone technologies was also highlighted.

"This war has become the first where drones play a key role, and we are the first in the world to create Drone Forces," the Commander-in-Chief stated.

He thanked the citizens of Ukraine for their support of the army and the allies for their assistance in the fight for independence.

"I am honored to be the commander of such warriors at this time," he concluded.

Russia's Invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, attacking from various directions – the north, east, and south. Enemy troops delivered massive missile strikes on military and civilian facilities, attempting to quickly capture key cities, particularly Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law, and the Ukrainian defense forces immediately began to resist. In the early weeks of the war, Russian occupiers faced powerful resistance, which thwarted their plans for a swift takeover of Ukraine.

Thanks to the heroic resistance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the support of international partners, the Russian offensive was halted. Ukrainian military forces liberated the Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions, and subsequently Kharkiv and Kherson.

In the RBK-Ukraine article "Descent in Hostomel and the Occupation of Bucha. Stories of those who first faced the great war" - read about the first days of the full-scale invasion.