Ukraine's Ousted Defense Minister Says Top General Blocked His War Reforms

Ukraine's former defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said his efforts to modernize the military were blocked by the country's top general, leading to his dismissal this week. Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech advocate who pushed for more drones and robots on the battlefield, said he repeatedly clashed with Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi. Speaking at a press briefing Thursday, Fedorov said he recommended Syrskyi be removed, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disagreed. "Every initiative we put forward began to be blocked," Fedorov told reporters. He accused Syrskyi of avoiding direct talks and issuing an ultimatum instead of working to defeat Russia. Syrskyi, in his first public comments after Fedorov's ouster, thanked the former minister and wished him success. Fedorov was appointed defense minister in January. He pushed for sweeping changes, including tackling corruption, overhauling the contracting system, and placing greater emphasis on drone technology. He said the war has changed, but military leadership refused to adapt. "The command-and-control system has changed, and we need to change as well," Fedorov said. "We cannot continue doing things the way we did back then." Despite the clashes, Fedorov credited Syrskyi for early battlefield victories, including the defense of Kyiv in 2022. However, he said the general's traditional thinking hurt Ukraine's war effort. Ukraine has seen recent successes using drones to target Russian supply lines and oil infrastructure under Fedorov's leadership. His pro-innovation stance made him popular among soldiers, many of whom criticized the military's Soviet-style command. But the rift between Fedorov and Syrskyi became too large for Zelenskyy to ignore. The president reshuffled his government and left Fedorov off the list. Fedorov said he was pushed out and declined a government advisory role. His dismissal must still be approved by parliament. The decision sparked protests in Ukrainian cities. Soldiers and officers called it a major mistake that could benefit Russia. Fedorov said he identified nearly a dozen problems in military management after taking office, from a fragmented strategy to a lack of accountability. He proposed replacing both the commander in chief and the chief of the general staff. "Instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically, he figured out how to split the country," Fedorov said of Syrskyi. Syrskyi said he would focus on the war and an effective strategy. "I will make every effort to ensure that such events can take place in a free and independent Ukraine," he said.