Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky faced serious challenges in the absence of a sufficient amount of Western weapons, but it was under his command that a successful counterattack of Russian forces was carried out in Kharkiv region.

"Syrsky had a serious challenge. We have been waiting for weapons and a vote on the package [aid] for almost eight months. This is a very serious challenge. I don't want to compare. I treat everyone with appropriate respect. Everyone performs or performed their tasks in their place. It is difficult to say what would have happened if the leadership in the army had not changed," Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday.

As he noted, "I frankly do not want to talk about it. These are post-war issues. We must respect everyone and be grateful to everyone who works and fights for Ukraine."

Zelenskyy also said he does not believe that without Syrsky there would have been no breakthrough of the Russian army in Kharkiv direction. "I believe that it [the breakthrough] would have happened because the Russians wanted it. They had a task to enter and occupy Kharkiv," the president said.

"The big plus in the situation regarding Syrsky is that he knows Kharkiv. And this is not enough. He won it back. And the successful operation in Kharkiv region was under his command. And that's a plus. But again, it is difficult for me to compare. Stopped – well done. They didn't let us occupy Kharkiv without a package – well done. And then we'll deal with the details [then]," Zelenskyy said.