Why remove the architect of Ukraine's battlefield success? | DW News
Video Overview & Insights
The removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has exposed deep tensions inside Ukraine's wartime leadership, after Fedorov accused Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi of dividing the country. Former US Ambassador John Herbst says Zelenskyy removed the man “most responsible for the extraordinary success we've seen on the battlefield" recently. DW spoke with Herbst and military analyst Marina Miron about what the reshuffle means for Ukraine's war effort.
Syrski/his loyal commanders are objectively afraid of their decisions being graded/judged. Fedorov suggests to use cold math equations to understand who is effective and who is not. This is what our allies do in their army, but this contradicts old school Soviet management style. Add on top the influence of corrupted suppliers, whom the automated math equations cut off from budget lifeline and you will get a perfect storm. Currently Syrski policy led to a lot of scandals - torturing and non-combat deaths in the regiments under his direct command, abduction of 2 civilians and their execution by 155th Brigade commander, who originally came from the Syrski's regiments, etc. Hence, when president decides to replace progressive Fedorov and keep Syrski, Ukrainians are of course not happy about this.
00:00 — Fedorov dismissed: Ukraine's surprise cabinet reshuffle explained
01:04 — John Herbst on why Zelensky made a strategic mistake
Not rift but a preplanned hiccup to rationalise EU support rationally and not ideologically during a critical phase of conflict tending towards adversarial desperation and the potential use of WMD. Any use of WMD cannot be limited to Ukraine only as that escalation would have to preempt EU's/NATO's responses. The younger leader wanted to complete the degradation of Russian capabilities. Economic support for Ukraine cannot be compromised especially with US being tied down in West Asia.
02:10 — What procurement and drone reforms did Fedorov push through?
03:18 — How six months of reform created a host of opponents
Zelensky is doing a big mistake by firing the defence minister, who is working against corruption in the defence sector. We already know that Ukraine is full of crooks, particularly among politicians and hig ranking public officials. I hate to see my tax money contributions to Ukraine’s battle against Russia being partially stolen.
05:00 — Zelensky's political standing and the scale of public backlash
06:32 — What the next 48 to 72 hours may bring
1. Too competent
2. Not corruptible
3. Too popular, a real political threat for Zelensky
08:10 — What Fedorov's firing means for the front lines
09:11 — Ursula von der Leyen's drone deal and the awkward timing
Power = drug
10:36 — Marina Miron: two competing military schools inside Ukraine's command
12:16 — Zelensky's broader cabinet reshuffle and presidential authority
How can unity be ensured between corrupt and non-corrupt officials? Each side wants to win
13:24 — Was Fedorov's agenda threatening entrenched military interests?
15:21 — What Zelensky is trying to achieve strategically
If I had to take a wild guess, they are preparing for a cease fire and Fedorov was an obstacle to that.
17:02 — Long-term risks for Ukraine's drone and digital warfare capacity
For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/
Syrskiy working for putin?
Follow DW on social media:
►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews
Guys, this is happening everywhere, all the time. problem is, we are not in a situation where this "matter" So keep protesting!
And yes, as a outsider, i sometimes wonder, do they know they are at war? Because the whole "war" is beeing run as some side operation. Where is the mobilization? where is the war economy? where is the converting every shop, repair shop, anything to full ammo, systems production. Where is the "all in"? Maybe i am just blind, but i just dont think they understand they are in a existential war. I hope I am wrong.
►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews
►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/
Fedorov needs to shut his mouth. Being so vocal isn't helping Ukraine. This isn't about 'him'. Zip it with dignity. His 'bitching' now makes me wonder if this was his normal mode of temper tantrum, which could explain why he had to go. This is not the time for his seemingly immature ego to pick a fight.
►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews
Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch
There's no rift - this is how a democracy works...There are no riffs in Putin's bunker, and everything is fine? Yeah...
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1
#dwcurrentaffairs
The media offensive is finally starting to reflect the battlefield.
More User Perspectives
Zelensky may be liked in Europe, but loathed at home.
@JohnJones-k9dTech over masses
@GinoPalitelliThere is change needed from the top. Zelenskyy would be good as a foreign affairs head of state, but perhaps a more devoted domestic leadership who fights corruption would also be needed.
The assertion that innovation, and a more modern innovative domestic as well as armed forces leadership is needed is absolutely correct. Nevertheless, he is good in foreign politics, and as a matter of fact, Ukraine would not exist as of today without him, but the internal problems did not change that much. He was elected as a champion of the fight against corruption in 2019, but he ended up fighting a war for his country against a superpower. On the International level he is very successfully. He materialized a lot of support, he is winning the hearts of the people, his leadership points in the right direction Internationaly. There is no other president in the world who rose from an unknown country to be at the G7, NATO, and other international bodies on the center stage. Even at the funeral of the pope, when he entered the auditorium, all the other heads of state stood up and started applauding in a 100% overwhelming expression of appreciation. When he enters the stage of the European Parliament, every member rises to give him thunderous applause. No other leader gets this recognition and that level of support. Europe was never that united and Europe has never included Ukraine in its considerations.
Zelensky is Now having issues with his people,are they misleading him
@snugysexyClearly someone was not paid. The corruption is so high in Ukraine I don't think even Europe is aware about it.
@torrent1615Zelensky has chosen the old guard, ineffective strategy, continued coruption over the Ukrainain people. If they loose now I have no sympathy. So sorry Ukraine, you need a new government.
@sampotter4455WHY?
@snugysexyAtlantic council, why does DW have these yank propagandists in, they are only interested in war.
@JohnJones-k9dZelensky does not want any potential competitors, he wants to rule alone with no potential President al candidates.
Zelensky wants to rule by decree only.
Outrage
Ukraine cannot afford such mistakes
That is the problem of all former soviet states.. they just can't get rid of old school corruption.
@themeettreesBecause he can't get all the credit and get to be part of the tens of billions getting into the main industry of Ukraine 🇺🇦 called the militarily industry. They need some before everything comes to an end. Part of the graft
AND WHY SHOULD HE GET ALL THE PRAISE 👏 🙌?
OTHERS ALSO WANT TO BE PART OF THE SCHEME. NO ONE MAN EATS ALL IN UKRAINE
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
The move probably is linked to pressures from EU to consider resolving the Russian claims of Donetsk,Zaporhihiza, Luhansk and Crimea temporarily to end the war and avoid the war (WMD?) spilling onto EU due to Russian desperation. The younger Defense Minister probably wants to continue the relentless pressures on Russia.
@KirenKK-te7pbRight now, I'd say it's more of a strategic decision. A functioning military is more important at the moment than a civilian minister. Fedorov has proven his worth, but so has the military. I'm sure Fedorov will soon reappear in a new, important role.
@solidsteel3634I am not donating any money to Ukraine until Feodorov is reinstated. this is ridiculous and makes me question zelenskyy's sanity
@andreafedDabartinė politinė kova vyksta, ne dėl Zelenskio ir ne Dėl fiorovo. Ji vyksta dėl stiprios Europos su savo Autonomija ir bendra armijos sistema. Taip jau gaunasi kai Rusai, pralaiminėja karą, kad pasirodo reikia skubiai pabaigti karą dabar pat, (pagal Rusų logiką) reiškia reikia patraukti Zelensky, nes Zelenskis eina iki pergalės, o jei jau vyksta toks stiprus anšlagas prieš Ukrainos prezidentą, tai yra tiktai paliūdyjimas jog besąlygiška pergalę yra visai šale. Kai pakariavai keturis metus tai keturi mėnesiai kaip rusai sako pagodu ne zdelajut. O iš kitos pusės yra ir USA interesai, jie nori pasiimti sau Ukrainos armijos pasiekimus ir patirtį, kad ji nepasiliktų europai. Atsimenat ? America first, taip tai būtent tai ir reiškia, kad jiems nereikalinga stipri Europa juolab autonomiška Europa. Dėja prieš planuodami perpėšti europą per pusę ir pasidalinti jos vadovavimą jie nesuprato, kad kvailesnis jaunesnysis brolis negali vadovauti vyriasniajam (ypač naudojant jėgą). Todėl pergalė pilna be salyginė iki galo, užtikrina jaunąjam kvailąjam brolužiui pamoką, kad reikia suvokti save ir žinoti savo vietą pasaulyje. Vėl gi, kadangi Amerika pusiaukelėja pasitraukė iš palaikymo ir pagalbos (nutraukė parąma), todėl amerikai ir nepriklauso Ukrainos armijos pasiekimai ir technologijos, bei duomenų bazė kariniam dirbtiniui intelektui. Nes apdovanojimai priklauso tik tiems kas ėjo iki galo ir padėjo kirsti finišo liniją, o ne tiems kas apsigalvojo ir pradėjo kišti pagalius į ratus. Ir ta MandarinoFobija prasta linija su kuria bandoma pateisinti Europos padalijima tarp rusijos ir Magaliandijos. Nieko neižeidinėjant, bet faktiškai, rusai yra mongol inside, tik balta oda. Todel manau, kad jei Kinija ir praskiestu rusų genetiką, tai pasauliui būtų tik geriau. Kinai darbštūs praktiški žmonės ir į karus nešoka kai jiems pasibaigia pinigai degtinei. Linkiu visiems rimtiems, turiu pilną pasitikėjima Zelenskiu, jis prie pat finišo linijos, visiems keep calm and carry on, kiekvienas savos atsakomybės lašas nuves mus i Valhalą.
@asfafasdad384I love the way DW tip toes around the corruption
@Wolfvain-qs5suFrom what I understand Federov over-spent his budget by more than 6 billion dollars on his pet projects.
If General Syrskyi is about to commit to a counter offensive before the end of the summer then it would be very likely that General Syrskyi has a greatly reduced budget to procure conventional weapons; this then would mean that General Syrskyi 's possible counter offensives chance of success would be greatly reduced with a strong possibility that any counter offensive would not only fail but also cause a far greater loss of Ukraine's soldiers.
This would be very good reason for General Syrskyi to be very angry with Federov, not only this but it would also be very likely that President Zelenskyy would have lost trust in Federov to handle the military budget in a professional way.
If my hypothesis is correct then this would be two very good reasons for President Zelenskyy to fire Federov.
I am an avid supporter of Ukraine also of General Syrskyi and Minister Federov, President Zelenskyy is a great president - I am sure he had a good and very honest reason to fire Federov.
The public audience knows well nothing is right with NATO's and EU's protégé Zelenski. Keep rewarding the Kiev regim with our tax money (...)
@Rob-q7v3sUkraine's battlefield success? Jesus, what on earth are you talking about? I just looked at the battle map, and it is almost exactly the way it was 4 years ago, except for a few tiny towns Russia has captured.
@jdoe4548Russia and Chinese submarines and navy muscles in Miami and Pacific
@adityabokkisum1000Terrible decision by pres. Z
@HWS-69🇺🇦🫡 Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦
@WolferlingZelanskyy forgets he works for the people and not for himself. The people are telling him to change his mind or to resign himself.
Mr give me, give me is showing he is putins greatest asset in Ukraine
I always had a feeling that long term Russia wasn't going to lose this war and now I know for sure. A small soviet army is not going to defeat a big soviet army.
@tellyboy17That's Lots of people alive, they should remove root cause of conflict rather support the illegal zelensky
@jimamarAgain
Russia takes crimea
Ukraine the protective dom against russia
Bring back Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Federov. Problem solved!
@joelstevenson5062Because of what Zelenksy has done to all those oil refineries and oil wells in Russia.... i worry for Europe.
Winter is coming and much of Europe is dependent on Russia for liquid natural gas and oil.
Hopefully, things will work out before winter.
This shows that the reason this war keeps going in both side is money being made over the blood of the people on both side.
@xipepeI can understand people being upset, but Zelenskyy is under the microscope constantly about corruption, I don't believe Zelenskyy is a corrupt President, NATO Countries are all over his spending, it's the people advising him that should be looked into, I am sure more will come out. Sometimes defense ministers are removed like this because of past collusion with Russia, never let any of them get too comfortable. Ukraine can still carry on with the same tactics without him, but I want to hear more, there is something behind this.
@arrow-lo7jfA competent man doing what his primary job is.. Is getting fired.. Come on.. This is some kind of a joke 🤔
@ElusiveAffinityEchosAlignmentCorruption... solvable by martial law. Send the corrupt to the front line, and make them defend the country
@TurboSnailAviatorHe exposed corruption that's why he is removed. Zalensky is corrupted he wanted money more than winning for the Ukraine.
@MoningshaZelenskyy is actor and a drug addict, not capable of representing the country or act in its best interest. Ukraine wants and needs people like Federov, who is the expert with great knowledge and understanding.
@yana7076Not his crony
@yuyij6703If you give such a speech during wartime after your dismissal, it proofs that you are unworthy for the office. This damages the president and the army. With this he puts himself over the country.
@TheBarbarella76He didn't contribute to the golden toilet fund 😅
@eyeondataranking