Ukraine's ousted defense minister opens up about his clashes with the top general. He says every change hit resistance.
Ousted Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov claims his efforts to modernize the military with tech-focused reforms were blocked by top commander Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi. Fedorov expressed frustration over the military leadership's traditional approach to the war effort.
Why it matters
Internal friction within Ukraine's military leadership during an active conflict highlights the challenges of balancing traditional military strategy with technological innovation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top commander Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi. Valentyn Ogirenko/REUTERS Ukrainian leadership ousted Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister this week. Fedorov said his innovative approach to the war clashed with the military leadership's traditional thinking. He said his efforts to reform the military were met with resistance by the top commander. Mykhailo Fedorov , Ukraine's ousted defense minister who pushed for sweeping reforms to transform the military into a modern fighting force, said his efforts to bring about change were met with resistance from the top brass. Speaking at a press briefing Thursday, Fedorov said he recommended that Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi , Kyiv's commander in chief, be removed from his role , but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disagreed. The now-former defense minister said he told the president he could live with that decision and would take steps to work with the commander for the good of Ukraine.
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