Syrsky: I didn't even know we had a conflict with Fedorov, but I apologize

«It was a surprise for me to learn that we had a conflict with the minister. I perceived our relations as professional: with complex issues, with different positions. That's how it should be between two institutions during a major war,» the general noted.

At the same time, Syrsky apologized to the former head of the Ministry of Defense.

«If I offended anyone: Mykhailo Albertovych, I apologize. I can be harsh. But I ask both you and everyone who is now eagerly following this story: let's focus not on the personal, but on the global. On victory,» said the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to him, there is a thought more important than any surnames: «Ukraine is bigger than Fedorov, Syrsky, and any of us».

Syrsky says that Ukraine will stand not because it has irreplaceable people, but because it has an army, institutions, and millions of people doing their job. He emphasized that reducing this war to a confrontation between two persons is «the greatest service we can do to the enemy».

According to the general, this applies not only to him and Fedorov.

«I see how people are divided into «Fedorov's camp» and «Syrsky's camp». As soon as an issue related to the war or the army is politicized, it is simplified to a slogan. And each of the issues currently being debated online — contracts, procurements, mobilization — is much more complex than any post about it. Decisions on which people's lives depend are not made with slogans,» Oleksandr Syrsky stated.

Since July 16, protests have been taking place in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine. Their participants demand the return of Mykhailo Fedorov to the post of Minister of Defense, as well as the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky.

During the briefing on July 16, Fedorov stated that Ukraine needs to change the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to more effectively counter the enemy. He also confirmed that serious contradictions existed between him and Syrsky. According to Fedorov, the Commander-in-Chief did not support his initiatives and did not want to discuss problematic issues.

On the same day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that in the new government, headed by Serhiy Koretsky, the duties of the Minister of Defense would be performed by Yevhen Khmara, who previously headed the «Alpha» Special Operations Center of the Security Service of Ukraine.

According to information from the Financial Times, amidst the protests, Zelensky is considering the possibility of Syrsky's dismissal.

On July 18, the President of Ukraine announced that he had a lengthy conversation with Mykhailo Fedorov, and also met separately with Oleksandr Syrsky. In addition, from July 17 to 20, Zelensky held a series of meetings with commanders of military corps and other high-ranking representatives of the Ukrainian army.

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