According to a report by the Financial Times, Zelensky is even considering the ouster of the chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, in an effort to limit the political consequences caused by the surprise removal of the former Minister of Defense, Mikhail Fedorov.
The image described is that of a leadership attempting to manage a crisis which it created itself.
The man who was removed became a point of reference
Mikhail Fedorov was not just another minister.
For many in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, he symbolized the transition of the military into a new era, with an emphasis on technology, drones, autonomous systems, and the radical reorganization of the way the war is conducted.
His removal did not simply provoke political reactions.
It opened a rift that seems to permeate the entire military apparatus of Ukraine.
According to the Financial Times, even after the appointment of the interim Minister of Defense, Yevgeny Khmara, the conflict between the ministry and the General Staff is not only not expected to de-escalate, but it might become even more intense.
Oleksandr Syrsky
Serious questioning of Syrsky
The same publication conveys particularly heavy assessments from sources within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
According to these, Oleksandr Syrsky does not possess a clear strategy for victory.
As a senior official allegedly stated: "The only plan is to hold the positions for as long as possible and to constantly mobilize more people."
If this information truly reflects the climate inside the Ministry of Defense, it constitutes an unprecedented questioning of the top military commander of Ukraine.
Zelensky desperately seeks a way out
The Financial Times report that Zelensky is planning meetings with top military commanders in order to evaluate the situation on the front and also to examine potential replacements for Syrsky.
This information reveals that even the possibility of a change in the top military leadership is now on the table.
If confirmed, it will be one of the most significant decisions of the Ukrainian leadership since the start of the Russian invasion.
However, the question is whether a new ouster can resolve the crisis or if it will simply deepen the internal conflicts even further.
The resignations worrying Kyiv as generals revolt
The departure of Fedorov did not remain without consequences.
Several senior officers publicly expressed their disagreement.
The deputy commander of the Air Force, Pavel Elizarov, submitted his resignation, characterizing the removal of Fedorov as a "great evil for the defensive capability of the country."
Even more worrying were the statements of the chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps, Sergey Sobko, who warned that the decisions of the political leadership may even lead to a military defeat.
According to him, professional criticism is now treated as a lack of loyalty toward the leadership, while important positions are occupied by individuals for whom there are serious questions regarding their professional competence.
These are allegations which, if they reflect the real climate in the military, show that the crisis does not concern only individuals but the overall way the Ukrainian army is commanded.
The political handling of Zelensky draws fire
The Economist had revealed that Fedorov sought the removal of Syrsky, without however receiving the support of Zelensky.
Instead of removing the chief of the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defense himself was removed.
This development reinforced the image that Zelensky chose to maintain the balances within the military establishment, sacrificing one of his closest collaborators in the field of reforms.
Even members of the Ukrainian Parliament have hinted that a harsh internal mechanism of power lies behind the ouster and not exclusively an evaluation of the minister's work.
Protests and political attrition
The removal of Fedorov provoked mobilizations in several cities of Ukraine, mainly by young people who consider that he expressed a more modern conception of defense and the functioning of the state.
The fact that a Minister of Defense turns into a point of reference for public protests constitutes an indication of the political attrition that the government is now facing.
For the first time after a long period, the pressure on Zelensky originates not only from the front but also from the interior of the state apparatus itself.
A crisis that will be difficult to resolve with yet another ouster
The potential replacement of Syrsky may offer Zelensky a temporary political relief.
It does not, however, answer the basic problem.
The public conflicts, the resignations of senior officers, the leaks from the Ministry of Defense, and the mutual accusations between the political and military leadership compose the image of a power that is being tested like never before.
If the information of the Financial Times captures the real situation, then Ukraine is not only facing a difficult war against Russia.
It is also facing an internal leadership crisis, in which the decisions of Zelensky are now at the center of criticism from both political and military circles.
Whether the replacement of yet another top official will restore cohesion or accelerate the destabilization of the Ukrainian leadership is a question that will be answered in the coming months.
Developments are closely monitored by Russia as well
The turbulence at the top of the Ukrainian military and political leadership does not pass unnoticed in Russia, where analysts and media estimate that the internal crisis in Kyiv can directly affect the cohesion of the Ukrainian war effort.
The possibility of replacing Oleksandr Syrsky, combined with the removal of Mikhail Fedorov and the public confrontations between political and military officials, is considered by Russian circles as an indication that the Ukrainian leadership is facing deep disagreements over the strategy of the war.
From a military standpoint, a potential change in the leadership of the Armed Forces could lead to a temporary reorganization of the command structure and to delays in taking crucial decisions, particularly if accompanied by new changes in the Ministry of Defense.
Concurrently, the public confrontation between top officials may affect the morale of the military and create uncertainty regarding the continuity of the military strategy.
However, several Western analysts point out that it is premature to draw conclusions as to whether the political developments will translate into an operational advantage for Russia.
The outcome will depend on whether the Ukrainian leadership will manage to quickly restore its cohesion and limit internal confrontations or if the crisis will develop into a prolonged power conflict in the interior of the state apparatus.
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