Amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, the issue of personnel appointments in the army has become one of the most acute and discussed. Against the backdrop of recent government reshuffles and protest actions, volunteer and head of the Aerial Reconnaissance Support Center, Maria Berlinska, issued a stern warning: the appointment of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should not take place under public pressure.
According to Berlinska, attempts by the «street» to dictate decisions regarding the supreme command during hostilities could provoke a split and weaken the country's defense. She wrote about this in her post, which RBC-Ukraine references.
The danger of a «popular vote» for command
Berlinska notes that citizens have the full right to attend rallies and defend their position regarding ministers, however, choosing the Commander-in-Chief in this manner is inadmissible. She points out that a number of names are already being voiced at protests — from Mykhailo Drapaty to Andriy Biletsky and Robert Brovdi. In her words, this creates an extremely dangerous precedent.
«And if tomorrow Biletsky and Drapaty in the role of CIC don't please us? Will we choose the CIC on cardboard again? Voicing your vision to the president — okay. Demanding the president appoint a specific CIC because the street said so — idiocy and chaos», — the publication quotes the volunteer.
She also emphasized that Russia is actively using this situation to its advantage, fomenting discord in the Ukrainian information space.
Protecting the reputation of officers from «clinical disrespect»
Separately, Maria Berlinska condemned the public devaluation of the reputations of Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ihor Klymenko, and Yevhen Khmara. She focused on their combat experience and contribution to the defense of the country, noting that these officers are currently being smeared by people who predominantly lack military service experience. Berlinska called this «clinical disrespect» and an extremely unhealthy trend.
In particular, she reminded that Oleksandr Syrskyi conducted a number of «brilliant, historical operations of a strategic level», which were even acknowledged by enemies, citing the Kharkiv operation as an example. However, now on the internet, he is called a «grandpa», a «butcher», and is unjustifiably accused of «hatred of drones».
The volunteer also defended the former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, who, according to her, «supplied combat corps, took over the MIA on the fly, launched combat work» and has sincere gratitude from many commanders.
Warning about consequences for the state
Commenting on the criticism of Yevhen Khmara, Berlinska called him a combat commander who stands behind many strategic special operations, developed «Alpha» as one of the top units, and knows how to think on a state level. At the same time, on the internet, he is groundlessly branded as a «failed anti-crisis manager of the president».
The head of the Aerial Reconnaissance Support Center warned that the public devaluation of Ukrainian officers could have catastrophic consequences for the state. She reminded that it was these people who took responsibility in critical moments that the majority is not psychologically capable of withstanding even in movies.
«If we will «crucify them in the squares», then tomorrow they will crucify us. Only not figuratively, literally. Russian officers will crucify us, but more likely even ordinary soldiers. In occupied Kyiv», — she warned.
Call for unity and maturity
In conclusion, Maria Berlinska called for unity and expressed hope that the president will preserve the opportunity for all effective commanders to fight, since Ukraine cannot waste valuable personnel. «We need to become adults, reconcile and work together. For the result», — she summarized.
Recall that following recent reshuffles in the government, protest actions began in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine. Rally participants spoke against the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov from the position of Minister of Defense and demanded the resignation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi. Personnel changes occurred against the backdrop of long-standing disagreements between the former head of the defense department and the Commander-in-Chief regarding the implementation of reforms in the security sector. The Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine will be Major General of the SBU and experienced special forces operator Yevhen Khmara.
