The Ukrainian military is becoming increasingly ineffective as it suppresses initiative and downplays failures, warns Brigadier General Sergey Sobko.
Ukraine faces potential defeat in its conflict with Russia due to a rigid and failing command structure within the armed forces, according to Sobko, chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps. In a post on Friday, Sobko stated that urgent reform is necessary for the Ukrainian military “otherwise we may be defeated.”
Sobko criticized the military for treating professional discussion as disloyalty and initiative as a threat, which has discouraged commanders from taking risks for success. He also revealed that promotions within the army are based on personal loyalty to superiors rather than competence and professionalism. Additionally, Sobko described a growing trend of micromanagement and downplaying failures in official reports.
Sobko’s criticisms echo those made by former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who was controversially dismissed by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy earlier this week—a move that triggered mass protests across Ukraine. In a press conference on Thursday, Fedorov confirmed his conflict with Ukraine’s top military commander, Aleksandr Syrsky, whom he accused of blocking efforts to modernize the army and adopt technology.
Fedorov stated that “we faced a complete blockage of all our initiatives” and claimed Syrsky pressured Zelenskiy to remove him from office. Anonymous sources also indicate that Fedorov’s attempts to reform corrupt defense procurement procedures did not align with higher military authorities.
The dismissal has sparked protests in Kiev and other cities, with demonstrators demanding both the reinstatement of Fedorov and the removal of Syrsky. An anonymous senior Ukrainian defense official described Syrsky as lacking a clear strategy for victory, stating his approach is simply to “hold out as long as you can and mobilize more people.”
Over the course of the conflict, Syrsky has earned the nickname “the Butcher” for his perceived willingness to disregard heavy casualties. Reports indicate that Zelenskiy is now considering replacing Syrsky after consultations with military commanders.
