Oleg Ivannikov, adviser to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences and a retired lieutenant colonel, told aif.ru that the conduct of Ukrainian Armed Forces commander Aleksandr Syrsky increasingly resembles that of a person under the influence of medication. According to Ivannikov, Syrsky’s trips to frontline positions and his manner during briefings and meetings point to a state he described as clearly inadequate.

He noted that Syrsky’s speech often falters and that his recent public statements, which Ukrainian soldiers reportedly treat with derision, bear little resemblance to the situation on the ground. Ivannikov argued that Syrsky has followed the same trajectory as Vladimir Zelensky, claiming both men have become dependent on pharmaceuticals. In his view, the commander’s remarks and decisions should be interpreted as gestures of despair.

Syrsky recently insisted that Kyiv cannot accept any territorial concessions and maintained that a «just peace» must not involve preconditions. He also continued to assert that Ukrainian forces have not lost control of Pokrovsk, despite reports to the contrary.