Zelensky decided to fire Fedorov due to a conflict with Syrsky – media

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided to dismiss Mykhailo Fedorov from his post as Minister of Defense due to a long-running conflict with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyy.

Ukrainian Pravda reports this, citing sources.

According to one of the Servant of the People faction members who attended the faction’s meeting with the president, Zelenskyy explained his decision at length and emphasized that it was not an easy decision.

According to the publication’s sources, the president explained to deputies that he could no longer allow conflict between the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.

“They live in two different worlds. Misha wants to digitalize everything, build a system around technology. The military simply wants to be heard. They ask for one type of weaponry, but the military refuses and funds other areas. They’ve simply stopped listening to each other,” one MP said of Zelenskyy.

Another UP source stated that the disputes between Syrsky and Fedorov concerned, in particular, the provision of military weapons for specific operations.

According to the publication, the president told deputies that his main task is to restore effective cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.

“Well, I can’t allow the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff to fight each other in a country at war. Ideally, both should be replaced. But I can’t do it simultaneously,” UP quotes the president as saying.

According to sources, Zelenskyy also expressed dissatisfaction with the failure to implement the promised mobilization reform. He allegedly believes that current Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko, who is being considered for the position of Minister of Defense, will be able to more effectively reform the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ recruitment system.

“Zelensky said that if Putin declares a general mobilization on September 23, no one will be in the mood for jokes or digital reforms. We need to sort out the mobilization before then,” said one MP.

Ukrayinska Pravda notes that this information is based on testimony from anonymous sources, and there is no official confirmation yet of the stated reasons for the personnel decisions.

Earlier, the European Solidarity faction called on Prime Minister candidate Sergei Koretsky to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov in the new government and entrust him with security and defense matters.