Ukraine’s military leadership teetered on the edge of a crisis after former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly rejected an offer to serve as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser, intensifying a public feud with Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces.
A Public Rift Unfolds
Gen. Yevhen Khmara. Fedorov, who had clashed with the traditional military establishment, accused Syrskyi of undermining the war effort by blocking reforms. Instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically – which is the commander-in-chief’s task – he figured out how to split the country,
Fedorov told reporters.
Syrskyi, a 60-year-old general who led Ukraine’s defense during the 2022 invasion, faced direct criticism from Fedorov, who claimed the army chief had engineered his removal through an ultimatum. We encountered a situation in which all the initiatives we proposed began to be blocked,
Fedorov said, adding, In this configuration, I personally don’t know how to win the war.
His remarks, delivered in front of a large screen showing drones, underscored the tension between reformers and the military establishment.
Zelenskyy has remained in office under martial law because wartime elections are prohibited, but has periodically reshuffled his government. The overhaul, which also included replacing his prime minister, could become a test of Zelenskyy’s political authority as Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches four-and-a-half years. The moves threw Ukraine’s military leadership into an unwelcome crisis at a time when its actions against Russia are starting to bear fruit and as Moscow has unleashed unrelenting aerial attacks.
Protests and Political Tensions
Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets in Ukraine, chanting bring Fedorov back
and waving Ukrainian and European Union flags, as the public grew uneasy about the leadership shakeup. A soldier serving in Ukraine’s army warned that political chaos could disrupt critical operations: For some, replacing a minister is merely a political reshuffle. For us, it can determine whether a needed drone arrives on time, whether essential equipment is purchased.
In Kyiv, over a thousand people gathered on a central square, singing Ukraine’s national anthem, waving Ukrainian and European Union flags and chanting shame
and bring Fedorov back.
Zelenskyy attempted to mediate, urging unity
and acknowledging the strained relationship between the defense ministry and the army command. A president in wartime should not have to choose in such a situation, honestly,
he said, speaking in Kyiv alongside U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was making his final foreign visit before leaving office next week. I would very much like unity.
Syrskyi, who initially organized the defense of Kyiv in February 2022 and seven months later masterminded a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, defended his results in a public statement, calling to focus on the war.
However, one of his most senior commanders—Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty—came to Fedorov’s defense, calling for new rules
and praising his willingness to challenge the status quo. Drapaty said the army needs change
and thanked Fedorov for not being afraid to tackle issues.
Unanswered Questions
The crisis leaves unresolved how Ukraine will reconcile its military hierarchy with Zelenskyy’s vision for reform.
Kyiv’s troops have largely halted the pace of Russia’s advance while pounding Russian oil and military sites with long-range drones, triggering a nationwide fuel crisis inside its neighbor. Western officials and analysts say the Ukrainian military has rallied under Fedorov, slowing Moscow’s front-line advance to a virtual standstill and striking refineries and other energy sites inside Russian territory, causing widespread fuel shortages.
Syrskyi, 60, attended the Moscow Higher Military Command School before serving in the Soviet Artillery Corps before the USSR’s collapse in 1991. Khmara, who has been acting head of the state’s security service (SBU) since January, previously led the SBU’s elite Alpha special forces unit.
Fedorov, who had been brought in six months ago, was seen as an innovator of the country’s successful drone technology. His ouster sparked protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators accusing Syrskyi of prioritizing internal divisions over the war effort. Instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically – which is the commander-in-chief’s task – he figured out how to split the country,
Fedorov said.
Worth a look
