The dismissal of Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked widespread protests. Rallies have been held in Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities since July 16. Participants are demanding Fedorov's reinstatement and the resignation of the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky. This now presents Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a difficult decision.
Conflict between the minister and the commander-in-chief
According to Fedorov himself, the reason for his dismissal was a conflict with Syrsky. Fedorov criticized him for “blocking initiatives” and “unwillingness to discuss problems.”
President Zelensky said that Syrsky and Fedorov failed to reach an agreement, admitting that it had become a problem for him as well. "I respect both sides, I know their strengths and weaknesses, and I really want them to strengthen Ukraine. But this is reality. And in such a situation, there is only one way out - to choose one side or the other," Zelensky explained.
Sirsky himself posted a short message on social media thanking Fedorov for his work as defense minister. "I hope he will remain part of Team Ukraine," the commander-in-chief wrote.
"Systemic problem"
According to political scientist Oleg Sakyan, co-founder of the Ukrainian “National Platform for Resilience and Cohesion,” Zelensky found himself in a situation where two sides were making categorical demands on each other: the military wing, represented by Commander-in-Chief Syrsky, and the technological sector, led by Fedorov.
"Fedorov's dismissal has revealed a clear ethical rift within Zelensky's team. It is no longer a question of Fedorov or Syrsky, but of a moral choice that Zelensky must make - to opt either for Syrsky's methods (focusing on the military and mobilization) or for the ethical principles and approaches advocated by Fedorov," Sakyan tells DW.
Meanwhile, Fedorov's dismissal further fuels the debate in Ukraine about the relationship between the civilian leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the military command. Nikolay Bjeleskov, an expert at the Ukrainian foundation "Return Alive", believes that the problem is systemic, not interpersonal.
"When the defense minister tries to go beyond simply providing the army with material supplies and instead raises questions about strategic warfare, it causes resentment within the military," Bjeleskov noted in an interview with DW. He warns that unless the problem is resolved at a systemic level, the conflict between the military and civilian leadership will continue to exist - either in a latent state or in an even more acute form.
Will there be a lack of new technologies?
Meanwhile, Yevgeny Kmara, the former head of the Special Operations Center "A" and since January the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), was appointed acting defense minister by a decision of Volodymyr Zelensky. "Kmara has gained vast and in many respects unprecedented experience in conducting technological offensive operations. This is where our defense efforts in this war should be focused," the president said.
According to Zelensky, once all legally required formalities are met, he will submit Kmara's nomination for the position of defense minister to parliament for confirmation. However, the deputies are not expected to meet in plenary session before mid-August.
Speaking to DW, former SBU officer and military expert Ivan Stupak describes the new acting defense minister as a specialist with deep knowledge of military issues. However, in his opinion, Kmara will not be able to fully replace Mikhail Fedorov, who did not have a military background. As a visionary and pioneer of digitalization, Fedorov played a unique role in Ukrainian politics.
“While drones will continue to fly, and deep- and medium-range strikes will continue to occur, I believe there will be few – if any – real innovations or breakthroughs related to digitalization, collaboration with Silicon Valley, or collaboration with the American technology firm Palantir,” Stupak fears.
The task of the new Minister of Defense
Igor Rejterović from the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv is convinced that the change in leadership at the Ministry of Defense will also fundamentally change the way the ministry works. "While the previous minister was more management-oriented, the ministry's approach in the future will be more strongly shaped by the military ethos," the political scientist believes.
In his opinion, Kmara's primary task will be to improve cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The expert sees this as the reason behind the president's recent personnel decisions. "This is an attempt to optimize cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Essentially, it is about resolving the conflict between the ministry and the military command - especially with the Syrian command," Rejterović explained to DW.
Military expert Ivan Stupak believes that the fact that the new head of the Ministry of Defense is not a civilian is a strength. "Kmara is a soldier, he wears a uniform, he knows the rules of the game and can speak to the generals in a language they understand," the expert concludes.
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