Ukrainian Troops Express Deep Disappointment Following Defence Minister’s Departure

Many Ukrainian soldiers outraged over removal – Following the announcement that President Volodymyr Zelensky would not retain Mykhailo Fedorov in his new cabinet, citizens flooded the streets of Kyiv on Thursday to voice their displeasure. Among those affected most profoundly were the nation’s soldiers, many of whom had grown attached to the young minister’s energetic leadership style and reformist vision. One wounded combatant, whose face bears the marks of severe injury, shared his hopes while awaiting surgery. “My operation is scheduled for tomorrow,” he explained in a video message uploaded to Telegram. “I hope when I wake up after the anaesthetic, Fedorov will be back at the Ministry of Defence.” He added with conviction that without this outcome, “everything I was fighting for will have been in vain.”

A Wave of Frustration Sweeps Through the Ranks

Across Ukraine, a palpable sense of injustice has taken hold among veterans and active-duty personnel alike. The president’s choice to replace Fedorov has generated both confusion and anger simultaneously. Maryna, a soldier whose identity we have protected, described the decision as “a blatant slap in the face to all service members.” She acknowledged the difficulty of articulating her feelings without succumbing to frustration. While demonstrations have erupted in various cities, Maryna remains skeptical that public outcry will alter the course of events. “A dictatorship is already unfolding here,” she observed, noting that “petty tyrants who think they have caught God by the beard” now wield influence. Military leadership has reportedly cautioned troops against political involvement, prompting many to request anonymity when speaking to journalists.

Recognition for Fedorov’s Transformative Work

Despite the protests, many soldiers distinguish between the demonstrators holding cardboard signs and those experiencing the harsh realities of combat. Natasha, another soldier, pointed out that frontline units faced rocket attacks from MLRS systems just the day before, leaving little attention for political symbolism. Nevertheless, messages received by our team reveal genuine admiration for Fedorov’s accomplishments. His tenure spanned both the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Defence Ministry, during which he championed technological advancement within the armed forces. Perhaps most notably, he elevated drone warfare to a decisive role, enabling Ukraine to shift momentum against Russia’s numerically superior forces.

During a meeting in Kyiv last summer, Fedorov outlined the “Army of Drones: Bonus” initiative, a system allowing frontline units to accumulate points for eliminating Russian personnel or destroying equipment. This approach accelerated procurement processes and encouraged creative problem-solving. Soldiers recognized Fedorov as someone deeply invested in maximizing limited resources through innovative methods.

Tensions Within Military Leadership

However, soldiers understand that Fedorov encountered significant resistance from entrenched elements within the military establishment. “If you can’t come to an agreement with the old fossils,” Natasha remarked, “they’ll eat you alive.” Central to this criticism is General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the sixty-year-old commander-in-chief who earned national acclaim for defending Kyiv during the initial weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Yet his reputation has since become associated with traditional, Soviet-era approaches that some feel undervalue human life.

Andriy, a soldier who spoke candidly, stated that “Syrskyi commands no authority or respect” among certain segments of the military. The nickname “General 200” references a Soviet casualty classification system, while others simply refer to him as “The Butcher.” Not all opinions are uniformly negative, however. Andrii, a former frontline fighter now serving on the General Staff, noted that “currently there is no replacement for Syrskyi in the army.” He acknowledged that while Syrskyi holds Soviet-era perspectives and attended a Russian military academy, “we do not have another military commander of such calibre” and credited him with conducting “all the successful operations of this war.”

It has become evident that Fedorov and Syrskyi experienced a significant rift before Zelensky announced his decision. The president’s choice to remove Fedorov appears to reflect this underlying tension between reform-minded leadership and established military tradition.