The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are facing a new wave of internal discussions, sparked by rumors of attempts to exert administrative pressure on the command staff. At the center of attention is the version about the collection of video appeals from brigade commanders in support of the Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The General Staff officially refuted these claims, however, the very fact of the appearance of such statements indicates deep contradictions within the Ukrainian army.

Rumors of "collecting video appeals" and the General Staff's reaction

The situation escalated on July 18, 2026, after Serhiy Sternenko, an advisor to the Minister of Defense on unmanned systems development, published materials that, in his opinion, evidenced the coordination of public statements by tactical unit leaders. Analytical platforms, including DeepState, also recorded a surge in activity in the information space, which they linked to an attempt to force commanders to publicly support the Commander-in-Chief.

In response to these publications, the General Staff of the AFU issued an official statement. The document emphasizes that military management bodies act strictly within the framework of the legislation and do not introduce restrictions on communication not provided for by the statute. The only exception remains measures aimed at preserving state and military secrets. The Military Service of Law Enforcement (MSLE) and investigative bodies, in turn, are conducting checks on appeals from citizens and servicemen in the standard mode.

Battle of doctrines: Fedorov vs. Syrskyi

Experts link the current polemic not just to personnel changes, but to a fundamental divergence in views on conducting the war. Against the backdrop of the resignation of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the appointment of Acting Minister Yevhen Khmara, two camps have clearly emerged in the defense sector.

Supporters of the former Minister Fedorov insist on the concept of modernization. Their program includes:

  • Accelerated robotization of armaments.
  • Optimization of the management structure.
  • Decentralization of decision-making.
  • Investigation of incidents in rear and training units, in particular, in the 425th Separate Assault Regiment.

In contrast to this, supporters of the current General Staff model led by Oleksandr Syrskyi adhere to a linear-defensive doctrine. Key theses of this strategy:

  • Priority on holding a stable front line.
  • Maintaining a rigid vertical of management in conditions of personnel shortage.
  • Strict control over the information field to prevent leaks.

Legal framework and statutory regulations

The official position of Kyiv boils down to the fact that any public statements by servicemen concerning the operational-tactical situation are regulated by internal regulations. References are made to the Statute of Internal Service of the AFU and the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law". The purpose of such restrictions is to ensure the stability of troop management and prevent the leakage of information with restricted access.

The political leadership, represented by Yevhen Khmara, calls on the public and media to refrain from spreading unverified information about internal regulations. The key task of the department at the current moment is declared to be the preservation of the stability of the state apparatus and the defense capability of the country.