Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has publicly responded to accusations from former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose resignation last week sparked protests across the country, in a column titled "My Job Is War" published by the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi.
Syrskyi said he was surprised to learn of a conflict with Fedorov, whom he believed they had a working relationship with. "If I offended someone with something: Mykhailo Albertovych, I apologize. I can be tough," Syrskyi wrote. He urged a focus on the broader goal of victory rather than personal issues.
The commander-in-chief rejected Fedorov's key allegations, including claims that Syrskyi micromanages the army via messaging apps or issues ultimatums. Fedorov had previously proposed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov be dismissed. Syrskyi said he has delegated some authority to corps commanders, calling this the opposite of micromanagement.
Syrskyi also denied accusations of neglecting drone development, noting that the Unmanned Systems Forces were established as a separate branch under his command, and that he personally proposed the appointment of their commander, Robert Brovdi (call sign Madyar), to the president. However, he stressed that the army cannot rely solely on drones and needs artillery, mortars, air defense, and electronic warfare.
One of the most contentious points in the column concerned finances. According to Syrskyi, Fedorov redirected funds intended for military salaries toward drone purchases, causing problems with troop pay in the second half of the year. "A soldier's salary is not a reserve for redistribution, but a state obligation to people who risk their lives daily," Syrskyi wrote. He added that authorities are now working to ensure full and timely payments.
Syrskyi also criticized new contracts proposed by Fedorov's team, saying only about 2,000 people had signed them out of an army of roughly one million. He described the decree on the corresponding "experiment" as raising serious legal questions.
President Zelenskyy has confirmed the conflict between the Defense Ministry and the General Staff, saying the two leaders failed to establish effective communication. Meanwhile, Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi publicly supported Fedorov's claims of resistance to reforms.