Ukraine Defense Minister Criticizes Army Chief, Cites Blocked Reforms

Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov launched a sharp public critique against the Chief of the General Staff, Oleksandr Syrskyi, accusing him of obstructing military reforms and refusing to acknowledge existing army problems. Fedorov's statements came during a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday, July 16, as rumors of his potential dismissal from the defense ministry circulate.

Fedorov asserted that cooperation with Syrskyi has become untenable because the military leadership has repeatedly blocked crucial initiatives proposed by the Ministry of Defense. "If we want to defeat the asymmetric enemy with minimal losses, we need to change the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of the General Staff," Fedorov stated, referring to Syrskyi and Andri Gnatov. He emphasized that while he had previously respected President Zelenskyy's decision not to dismiss Syrskyi, the continuous blocking of reforms made collaboration impossible.

The minister argued that the nature of the war has changed, becoming increasingly technological, and that the current military command structure is not adapting effectively. Fedorov claimed that Syrskyi is unwilling to discuss problems openly, preferring to engage in "intrigues" and suspecting media campaigns rather than addressing operational issues. This, Fedorov said, led him to issue an ultimatum.

While acknowledging Syrskyi's significant role in Ukraine's defense in 2022, particularly during the operations in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson, Fedorov stressed that the war has evolved. He believes a change in leadership is necessary to adapt to the current technological warfare and achieve victory against Russia with fewer casualties. Fedorov expressed confidence in President Zelenskyy's ability to make the right decisions, stating, "I am convinced that the president listens to the Ukrainian people, knows what needs to be done, and the situation will be 100% remedied."

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Și în loc să-și dea seama cum să învingă Rusia în mod asimetric, ceea ce este sarcina comandantului suprem, a descoperit cum să divizeze țara.