Oleksandr Syrskyi shifts Ukrainian military leadership to vertical approach

Sources close to the military chief, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described how Syrskyi's hands-on leadership contrasts with his predecessor's more "horizontal" method. "Syrskyi personally visits combat brigades to directly assess the situation on the ground, a practice he maintained from his time overseeing the Land Forces," one commander told NV.

A staff member from the General Staff who works frequently with Syrskyi characterized him as a "player-coach," actively engaging at the frontlines and interacting directly with troops down to the platoon and company levels.

However, some insiders have reservations about Syrskyi’s authoritative approach. "He’s an old-school authoritarian leader," said another source, noting Syrskyi's preference for a tightly controlled leadership structure that favors loyalty and personal closeness over purely professional criteria. This has led to strategic rotations within the military ranks.

The same source added that Syrskyi tends to avoid negative updates from the battlefield, insisting on hearing positive developments. "While he listens to various perspectives, he ultimately bases his decisions on his own predetermined views or top-down directives," the source explained.