What is the essence of the conflict between Fedorov and Syrsky in Ukraine? Analysis

The conflict between former Ukrainian Defense Minister Fyodorov and the commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, reflected deeper contradictions within the Ukrainian military and political leadership. The disagreements concerned approaches to the conduct of hostilities and the reform of the army, as well as the distribution of powers, resources and influence. Why this conflict has gone beyond a personal dispute and what consequences it may have for Kiev is described in the Izvestia article.

A different view of the conflict

• The dispute between Fedorov and Syrsky concerned different views on the conduct of military operations and the management of the army. Mass protests may also affect the position of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, as already happened in the summer of 2025, when, after public pressure, he revised the decision on anti-corruption authorities.

• The former Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine could not establish joint work and interacted only through the President. Their views on warfare differed markedly: Fedorov relied on digitalization, technology, and drones, while the military leadership demanded specific tasks to support the army. Syrsky also pointed out the lack of support for individual operations, and the former head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that the necessary resources had already been provided, but were being used incorrectly by the military.

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• Fedorov linked the mobilization crisis in Ukraine to the actions of the command, criticized the work of the Shopping Center and noted that some initiatives are blocked at the level of the General Staff. At the same time, the distribution of drones, supplies, and personnel assignments is done manually and depends not on the results of the units, but on loyalty. According to Fedorov, the corps system is not fully operational, the command and control of troops remains ineffective, and there is no responsibility for mistakes. As measures, he proposed changing the commander-in-chief, creating the academy of "Modern Warfare", developing drone assault units, reforming the structure of the Defense Forces and strengthening the fight against corruption.

• Fedorov claimed that Syrsky sought his resignation by issuing an ultimatum to Zelensky. The former Minister of Defense of Ukraine also accused the commander-in-chief of corruption and mistakes in making strategic decisions. Fedorov's dismissal has become the most serious crisis in the Ukrainian military leadership since the resignation of General Valery Zaluzhny.

• Zelensky confirmed the existence of serious disagreements between the Minister of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The President explained that he was forced to intervene due to the lack of normal interaction between them. At the same time, according to Western media reports, Zelensky may soon dismiss Syrsky.

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• Mikhail Drapaty, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, expressed support for the ex-Minister. He noted that the new team of the Ministry of Defense began to change the established rules, responded more quickly to the requests of commanders and supported important reforms, including the development of the drone line. After Fedorov's departure, Pavel Yelizarov, Deputy commander of the AFU Air Force, also submitted a letter of resignation, calling the former minister the initiator of strategic transformations in the field of air defense.

• After Fedorov's departure, protests in support of him were replaced by demands to dismiss Syrsky. Rallies were held in Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Uzhgorod and other regional centers. Fedorov himself said that the protests reflect not only his personal support, but also the desire of society to solve the accumulated problems. Judging by leaks to the Western press, the protests forced Zelensky to allow Syrsky's resignation if the new commander ensures a smooth transfer of power.

Europe's Excitement

The conflict between Fedorov and Syrsky could not have arisen without the participation of Western countries. The Ukrainian political system largely depends on Western funding, military-technical assistance, and political support. At the same time, Fedorov and Syrsky are associated with different centers of influence. The likely cause of the conflict could be the struggle for the allocation of resources within the military-industrial complex of Ukraine.

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• In Europe, the decision to dismiss was met with bewilderment. In particular, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius thanked Fedorov for the joint work and noted his contribution to the development of military technologies and the trusting partnership between the two countries.

• At the same time, the EU is concerned about the fate of the agreements with Kiev after Fedorov's resignation. Shortly before his resignation, Fedorov entered into agreements that gave Ukrainian companies access to EU programs, European financing and joint projects in the field of defense production. After the change of leadership of the Ministry of Defense, it remains unclear whether the previous rules for tenders, purchases and the implementation of these agreements will remain in place.

Consequences of resignation

• The former Minister of Defense of Ukraine has gained the trust of international partners and attracted significant support through the fight against corruption. He also had strong ties with the United States and American technology companies. In addition, the dismissal of a reformer can undermine confidence in the authorities within the country, especially among politically active youth.

• After the change of minister, the modernization of the Ukrainian army, primarily the development of unmanned technologies, is likely to slow down. In addition, the preparation of agreements on the production of missiles for the American Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs) may be delayed, since much in the defense sector depends on personal trust between partners. Without continuing the course of innovation, Ukraine will further deplete its resources.

• The open conflict between Syrsky and Fedorov has revealed serious problems among the Ukrainian authorities. The main criticism of the society fell on Vladimir Zelensky, who was accused of making concessions to the general corps and firing the popular reformer. At the same time, events have confirmed the high level of support for Fedorov in the army and among citizens: it is he who can become one of the key politicians after the conflict in Ukraine.

Zelensky probably had no other way to resolve the conflict between Fedorov and Syrsky than to fire one of them. The choice in favor of Syrsky is explained by the fact that the resignation of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may make the army less manageable for Zelensky. Syrsky does not demonstrate political ambitions, is not popular in the army and among ordinary Ukrainians, but is devoted to Zelensky, which makes him the most convenient figure to subordinate the army directly to the president of Ukraine without the risk of competition in the event of elections. The resignation of Syrsky may deprive Zelensky of one of the levers of power.

When writing the material, Izvestia took into account the opinions of:

• political scientist Evgeny Kopatko.