Commander of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment: I Saw Zaluzhny Twice – Syrsky Regularly at the Front

Dmytro Filatov, the commander of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment, commonly referred to by his call sign 'Perun', has provided insights into his experiences under the command of Oleksandr Syrsky, the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). In an exclusive interview with 'Ukrainska Pravda', Filatov emphasized that Syrsky's approach is markedly different from that of his predecessor, Valeriy Zaluzhny, particularly in terms of engagement with frontline commanders.

Filatov highlighted that General Syrsky is not an impulsive leader. He stated, "The tone varies depending on the circumstances and events at the front. However, the Commander-in-Chief is not an impulsive person; he does not yell or curse. But he can be very persistent." This indicates that Syrsky possesses the ability to listen to and consider the opinions of commanders, which is a crucial aspect of military management.

Furthermore, Filatov assured that during discussions with the Commander-in-Chief, commanders can be "100% open." Although Syrsky does not always agree with their opinions, he certainly listens to them. "Commanders of formations such as assault units, like the Airborne Assault Troops, when they say they cannot cope, they explain why. They specify what resources they lack," he elaborated, underscoring the importance of open dialogue between commanders and leadership.

Filatov also recounted instances where he had approached the Commander-in-Chief requesting a delay in offensive operations when the situation at the front warranted it. "I cannot advance. I explained that the equipment is not ready, we have not managed to set up defenses against FPV drones, and we have not established communication," he shared. According to him, during offensive actions in the Huliaipole direction, none of the brigade or regiment commanders had approached the Commander-in-Chief requesting additional time for preparation, and the Commander-in-Chief never responded with, "I am not interested. Forward!"

In comparing his experiences with Valeriy Zaluzhny and Oleksandr Syrsky, Filatov noted that during Zaluzhny's tenure as Commander-in-Chief, he met with him only twice, and those meetings occurred in Kyiv. "During these meetings, I raised very important and pressing issues – and none of them were resolved," he recounted. In contrast, meetings with Syrsky, with the exception of one, take place at the front, allowing for a more responsive approach to current challenges.

Filatov also mentioned that Syrsky visits the frontlines approximately once every ten days when there are no active operations, and in areas where offensives are ongoing, he visits twice a week. This demonstrates his active involvement in combat operations and his readiness to be present where his leadership is needed.

In response to a question from a journalist at 'Ukrainska Pravda' regarding his impressions of Syrsky, Filatov expressed his opinion on why the President's Office does not invite 'Ukrainska Pravda' to meetings with the Commander-in-Chief. "The President's Office does not invite you because you do not do what they ask. You adhere to journalistic ethics, not doing what the state authority says – for that, I have great respect for your editorial team. However, sometimes you blatantly hype things up, and that is somewhat offensive. This is my opinion," he stated.

Discussing Syrsky's personal qualities, Filatov emphasized that he appoints commanders based on their capabilities. "He calls some commanders in the middle of the night. There was a story where he called a commander whose unit was on the offensive, and that commander answered the phone a bit sleepily. Syrsky then asked him, 'Are you sleeping, damn it?' For the Commander-in-Chief to call during active operations at one or three in the morning is completely normal. If there are no active operations, he simply calls to ask how things are, what the losses are, and how he can help. He is completely in the loop," Filatov concluded, describing the leadership style of the new Commander-in-Chief.