Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended his decision to dismiss Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Thursday, citing a severe breakdown in relations between the defence ministry and military leadership.
The rift became public during a joint press conference, where Zelenskyy explained that a challenging dialogue had split the ministry from the top command under Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
"I would very much like to see unity. The sides have not found it.
And the problem lies not only with the sides, but with me as well," Zelenskyy said.
The president said the lack of consensus forced him to choose between the competing factions. "But things are as they are.
And in such a situation, you have a choice: either one side or the other," he added.
The political friction overshadowed the final official visit of outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Kyiv.
Starmer reaffirmed the UK's long-term defense commitment, stating, "The support of the United Kingdom for this course will never change."
"It is in our bones.
The flags are flying in churches and town halls across the country, as they have throughout the duration of this conflict.
Your fight is our fight," Starmer said.
He also noted that Ukrainian military strategy had recently disrupted Russian logistics, attributing it to "hard work, guts, resolve and courage."
Meanwhile, the dismissed defence minister held a separate briefing criticizing the rigid, outdated hierarchy within the military command.
"It's impossible to develop the system on this basis," Fedorov said.
Fedorov claimed the General Staff routinely blocked modernization and reform.
"This sort of culture needs to be eradicated, because otherwise we won't be able to defeat an enemy whose system is plagued by the very same issues," he said.
He stressed that structural transformation is critical for an asymmetric advantage. "We have no other choice if we want to defeat Russia asymmetrically, with minimal losses," Fedorov added.
The dismissal triggered public demonstrations outside government offices in Kyiv. Protesters held placards reading "For what?"
and "Is your head screwed on?" and chanted "Syrskyi out."
Protester Andrii Dligach voiced concerns that removing the reform-minded minister reflected political insecurity. "Syrskyi is an old-fashioned general.
Some of the people around him are allegedly corrupt and have their own drone projects. The problem is that Zelenskyy opposes anybody who shows political ambition," Dligach said.
He suggested the leadership is isolated from alternative perspectives. "Only a few people can influence the president's thinking.
Most are against Fedorov.
They prefer an old fashioned management style, similar to the one in Russia, with a tsar," Dligach added.
