"Ukraine is bigger than Fedorov or Syrsky or any individual. If we reduce the current war to a confrontation between two individuals, the biggest beneficiary will be the enemy," Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky stated in an article published on the military news site Militarnyi on 20/7.

This marks the first time General Syrsky has publicly addressed suspicions of conflict with former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Since his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2/2024, he has rarely given interviews or posted messages regarding domestic political disputes.

General Syrsky at an unspecified location on the eastern front in 2/2024. Photo: AFP

Syrsky affirmed that their recent exchanges "are just a normal part of wartime work," describing his professional relationship with former minister Fedorov as "professional despite disagreements." He emphasized that "only effort will help us win, not public noise surrounding this war."

However, the Commander-in-Chief also expressed dissatisfaction with the professional soldier contract reform initiated by Fedorov. He argued that its implementation was too slow, with only more than 2,000 people registered in over a month of deployment.

General Syrsky specifically opposed the idea of retaining soldiers' salaries to reallocate defense budgets, transferring them to a fund for purchasing unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) as proposed by former minister Fedorov. He believed that recent reforms had negatively impacted morale among military personnel.

The Ukrainian parliament on 14/7 approved the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, which led to the resignation of the entire cabinet, including Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov subsequently announced he would not continue in this position.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, President Volodymyr Zelensky previously told lawmakers that Fedorov and Syrsky had "systemic and irreconcilable" conflicts.

Former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov holds a press conference in Kiev on 16/7. Photo: AFP

The former Ukrainian defense minister confirmed this information on 16/7, accusing General Syrsky of issuing an "ultimatum" to President Zelensky. Fedorov revealed that President Zelensky had offered him a position as an advisor or to remain in the government in another capacity, but he declined the offers.

President Zelensky's cabinet reshuffle led to numerous protests with thousands of people participating in Kiev and other cities. Protesters demanded Fedorov's reappointment to promote military reforms suitable for modern warfare.

Ukrainian media, citing informed sources, revealed that President Zelensky is considering dismissing General Syrsky in the coming days. The replacement list includes 11 candidates, among them Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi, who is considered an ally of former minister Fedorov.

Thanh Danh (According to Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, AFP)