Rivalry with top general led to dismissal of popular Ukrainian defence minister Fedorov

Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had been in office for only six months, launched an unusually public attack on Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky during a press conference in Kyiv, accusing him of systematically thwarting reform efforts. Fedorov claimed that Syrsky, instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically, focused on splitting the country. He admitted urging President Zelensky to replace Syrsky and Chief of General Staff Andrii Hnatov, but after it became clear they would stay, he was prepared to work with them. However, Fedorov said Syrsky issued an ultimatum: either Fedorov goes or he does.

Zelensky chose to keep Syrsky. The president said the two men could barely be in the same room and that he should not have to choose in a war, but he made his decision. Fedorov rejected an offer to remain in an advisory role.

Analysts say the rift reveals a fundamental disagreement on how to continue the war. Fedorov, a tech-savvy modernizer, advocated for drones, digitalization, and procurement reform as a way to offset manpower shortages. Syrsky, a traditional Soviet-trained general, focuses on operational command, manpower, and munitions. Fedorov is credited with advancing Ukraine's drone warfare, but critics argue that drones and code cannot recapture and hold territory.

Following Fedorov's dismissal, thousands of Ukrainians protested across the country. Fedorov had earlier revealed Ukraine's growing desertion crisis: over 200,000 soldiers absent without leave and 2 million men evading the draft. In June, he announced recruitment reforms including pay raises and fixed-term contracts, but Zelensky reportedly told lawmakers that Fedorov's reforms were just imitation – "just slides."

Last week, a riot broke out in Lviv when residents attacked draft officers. Experts note that Ukraine needs both advanced technology and significant manpower to win the war of attrition.