Syrskyi orders strengthening of sergeant training and anti-drone exercises
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, held a meeting dedicated to improving the quality of training for military personnel, where the key priority was identified as the training of the sergeant corps.
The general emphasized that sergeants are the backbone of combat units and leaders at the tactical level, so their competence directly affects the preservation of soldiers’ lives and the success of operations against the Russian Federation. During the meeting, the work of the network of sergeant colleges, the implementation of basic-level programs, and the results of training over the past month were analyzed.
Special attention during the meeting was paid to implementing additional anti-drone training measures and conducting live-fire exercises for small combat groups to counter drones. Due to the high intensity of combat operations, Syrskyi supported the expansion of accelerated training for squad leaders directly in areas of combat missions. During 2025, more than 2,600 leaders of combat units have already undergone such training, and this experience is planned to be scaled up, focusing on training quality rather than the number of graduates.
Syrskyi also noted that the Russian Federation plans to increase its military grouping in Ukraine to 800,000 personnel.
The Defense Forces struck a space communications center and enemy air defense facilities.
Powerful explosions were reported at the Belbek airfield in Crimea.
In Kyiv, more than 70% of “Shahed” drones were destroyed thanks to UAV interceptors, Syrskyi added.
