The interview was recorded several days before President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Syrsky commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in place of the sacked General Valery Zaluzhny.

“The war is entering a new stage,” Syrsky told ZDF.

“We have transitioned from offensive actions to conducting a defensive operation,” he added, in order to “exhaust the enemy and inflict maximum losses on them, using our fortifications, our technical advantages, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and prepared defense lines.”

The Ukrainian armed forces have turned to aerial and even ground drones to preserve the lives of troops, Syrsky said.

“I’d rather leave a position, but I won’t allow the loss of personnel,” he told the German outlet. He claimed that Russia places “no value” on the lives of its troops, which is reflected by its losses being 7-8 times higher than Ukraine’s – according to Kiev’s estimates, anyway.

Multiple Western outlets, from the Washington Post to the New York Times, have highlighted Kiev’s shortage of frontline infantry as well as ammunition in recent weeks. According to the Times, Kiev is facing the very real prospect of “a cascading collapse along the front” unless the US sends military aid very soon.

The need to mobilize another 500,000 Ukrainians to replace the battlefield losses has exposed a rift between Zelensky and Zaluzhny, which resulted in the general’s sacking last week. Syrsky, the former commander of Ukrainian ground forces, is reportedly reviled by the troops, who consider him a bull-headed “butcher”.

According to Politico, the soldiers have given Syrsky the nickname “General 200” (a reference to the code for killed in action, i.e. ‘General KIA’) because he had sacrificed so many lives in futile attempts to hold and then retake Artyomovsk (known as Bakhmut in Ukraine) last year.

Speaking to ZDF, Syrsky said Ukraine needs to build up domestic weapons and ammunition production to make up for the possible loss of external support. Kiev has become almost entirely dependent on the US and NATO, who have poured over $200 billion in weapons, equipment and ammunition to Ukraine over the past two years.

The general also confirmed that Kiev still considers reaching Ukraine’s 1991 borders as the main victory condition.

“Everything is based on the fact that we must end the war by reaching our borders. Other options are not considered because we simply have no other way out,” he added.

Moscow has repeatedly announced that Ukraine recognizing Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson as part of Russia is a prerequisite for any peace talks.

In a statement issued by the SVR’s press service on Monday, Naryshkin suggested that the US and the UK are trying to convince other G7 states to establish the post in order to “strengthen the mechanisms of direct external control of the territory controlled by the Kiev regime”.

“It is expected that [the ‘special envoy’] will have constant access to President Zelensky and know about all his plans,” the SVR’s statement read. The person will also have the ability to “block the steps of the Ukrainian leadership that are not coordinated with Washington and London, proposing instead the correct solutions, from the point of view of the Anglo-Saxons,” it added.

Naryshkin described the reported plan as a “crude attempt by the West to increase the enslavement of the Ukrainian people [which] cannot but cause concern”. However, he claimed it is unlikely that the “governor” would be able to help Washington and London achieve their aims, as he would be “unable to stay afloat for long in the Kiev swamp of mutual hatred, intrigue, deception, flattery, and betrayal”.

Regarding potential candidates for the new role, Naryshkin suggested that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is among the main contenders, as well as other “Russophobic politicians”.

According to the SVR chief, the idea to create the new position comes as the West realizes that Ukrainians are becoming increasingly disillusioned with their chances of victory against Russia on the battlefield. The US and the UK therefore fear betrayal by the elites in Kiev, who may try to switch sides.

Such fears are completely justified, Naryshkin said, claiming that “the first ones have already left”.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s position on the battlefield has continued to deteriorate as its forces lack ammunition and struggle with personnel shortages and low morale. Citing unnamed US officials, the New York Times reported last week that Kiev’s troops could soon be forced to abandon their frontline positions unless they receive more aid from the West.