WAR IN EUROPE: ‘Ukraine is turning tide of conflict,’ says foreign minister Andrii Sybiha

The Ukrainian foreign minister highlights the shifting dynamics of the war, emphasising the role of drone technology while urging African nations to resist Russian recruiting efforts.

The war against Russia is “turning in Ukraine’s favour”, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha recently told African government ministers, former leaders and current opposition leaders.

Sybiha addressed the Spier Dialogue run by Spier and the Platform for African Democrats, and supported by Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation, where the discussion was around African and global issues.

The African audience included former Botswana President Ian Khama, Zimbabwean opposition leader Tendai Biti, Mozambican opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, Angolan opposition leader Adalberto Costa Junior, Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi, Ugandan opposition leader Joel Senyonyi, DA leader and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, SA home affairs minister Leon Schreiber, SA sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie, SA cooperative governance minister and IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa and former Lesotho prime minister Moeketsi Majoro.

Speaking by video link from Kyiv, Sybiha said he didn’t want to be overly optimistic about Ukraine’s chances, but “that’s the reality. Ukraine holds the line and we have stabilised the front line. We are now intercepting up to 90% of Russian aerial targets. Our drone technologies have become a game-changer.

“We can operate drones far from the front line and our front line is about 1,300km, with daily clashes, with daily fighting.

“Our main goal is to save the lives of our soldiers. In some parts of this front line, we try to replace soldiers by using drones, and because of our advanced, sophisticated drone technologies, not only in the air, but also on the ground and on the sea, manpower is no longer an advantage for Russians.”

Digital technology is helping Ukraine hold its own against a country that is 26 times bigger, while paying for a war that was costing it $450-million a day to maintain what he said was now the strongest army in Europe.

“Things are not going well for Putin. He loses 35,000 men per month, a number that is growing, a number that he cannot compensate for.” About 1.3 million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, 2022, he said. “Putin is becoming the biggest murderer of his own people.”

Despite this high price, last year Russia gained just 0.8% more of Ukraine’s territory.

Sybiha said that because of its high casualties, Russia was increasingly turn