May 1, 2025
Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Feb. 10, 2023. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Ukrainian army retook 115 positions from Russian forces during April, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on May 1.
“We use active defence tactics: thanks to these actions, our soldiers regained a total of 115 positions over a month,” Syrskyi wrote on Facebook.
The main task of the Ukrainian army now is to deter Russian troops in the “threatened areas,” primarily Sumy, Kursk, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivsk, he added.
Syrskyi highlighted the continued success of artillery, aviation, and UAVs. “In April, DeepStrike (long-range drones) hit 62 targets in Russia, destroying military facilities and undermining the aggressor’s (Russian) military-industrial complex,” he said.
He also noted that the “18-24” mobilization projectis progressing, as is the transfer of military from non-combat units to combat ones, with 30,500 soldiers moving to combat roles using the “Army+” application.
Additionally, criminal offenses within the Ukrainian army have decreased by 43% compared to 2024, he said.
Earlier on May 1, Syrskyi also reported that Ukrainian drones struck and destroyed more than 83,000 Russian targets in April, an 8% increase from March.
Syrskyi said the growing success underscored the need to further expand drone operations.
Ukraine and Russia both rely heavily on drones for surveillance and strikes.
Kyiv has rapidly expanded domestic drone production, integrating them into reconnaissance and combat roles. On Feb. 9, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry launched the “Drone Line” initiative to accelerate battlefield deployment.
Ukraine has also developed long-range missile-drone hybrids, such as the Palianytsia and Peklomodels, which use turbojet engines as cruise missile alternatives.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a target of producing at least 30,000 long-range drones in 2025.Syrskyi emphasized that prioritizing drones allows Ukraine to inflict losses on Russian forces from a distance while preserving infantry lives.
Author: Yuliia Taradiuk
WAR UPDATE, UKRAINE, RUSSIA, WAR, PEACE TALKS, UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES, DONALD TRUMP, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine destroys 83,000 Russian targets using drones in April, Syrskyi says
by The Kyiv Independent news desk
May 1, 2025
Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi photographed during an interview on June 30, 2022, in eastern Ukraine. (Anastasia Vlasova for the Washington Post via Getty Images)
Key developments on May 1:
- Ukraine destroys 83,000 Russian targets using drones in April, Syrskyi says, up 8% on March
- Trump reportedly shifts tone on Putin after UK, France apply diplomatic pressure
- US to bring Ukraine, Russia together over the next 100 days, Vance says
- Ukrainian army retook 115 positions in April, Syrskyi says
- Zelensky says minerals deal signing first result of talks with Trump in Vatican
Ukrainian drones struck and destroyed more than 83,000 Russian targets in April, an 8% increase from March, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on May 1.
“In April, units of unmanned systems of the Ukrainian Defense Forces achieved decent results in destroying the enemy,” Syrskyi wrote on Facebook. “The damage efficiency increased by another 5%.”
Syrskyi said the growing success underscored the need to further expand drone operations.
This achievement is a far cry from a country with “no cards”.