Alexander Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has publicly commented on the situation surrounding the resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov from the post of Minister of Defense. In his opinion column published on the Militarnyi portal, Syrsky denied the existence of a personal conflict and apologized to the former minister.
Professional Disagreements, Not Personal Hostility
According to the Commander-in-Chief, it came as a complete surprise to learn that their relationship had allegedly turned into a conflict. Syrsky emphasized that he always viewed his interaction with Fedorov strictly in a professional capacity. He noted that having different positions on complex issues is a natural process for two institutions during wartime.
"I perceived our relationship as professional: with complex issues and different positions. This is how it should be between two institutions during a Great War," Syrsky wrote.
Admission of Harshness and a Call for Unity
The Commander-in-Chief did not deny his strict communication style, admitting that he is sometimes "harsh." He offered a direct apology to Mykhailo Albertovych if his actions had offended anyone. However, the main message of the statement was directed at society: Syrsky called for an end to focusing on personalities and personal grievances, urging everyone to focus on the global goal—victory.
Syrsky expressed concern that Ukrainian society is beginning to divide into a "Fedorov camp" and a "Syrsky camp." He reminded the public that real defense issues, such as contracts, procurement, or mobilization, are significantly more complex than social media discussions and cannot be resolved with slogans.
Victory Depends on Work, Not Drama
In his statement, the Commander-in-Chief emphasized that no single person is more important than the state. In his view, attempts to reduce the war to a confrontation between two officials are the best service one can do for the enemy. According to Syrsky, Ukraine will endure thanks to the army, institutions, and millions of people doing their jobs, not because there are "irreplaceable" personalities.
"Ukraine is greater than Fedorov, Syrsky, or any of us. Reducing this war to a confrontation between two persons is the biggest favor we can do for the enemy," he summarized.
Syrsky also noted that the war will be won through real daily work, not public drama surrounding it. Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained Fedorov's resignation as a lack of effective interaction between the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces command, which required constant intervention by the head of state. Meanwhile, Fedorov later stated that he had proposed to Zelenskyy to replace the military leadership but was refused, after which the General Staff began blocking his reforms.
