Brigadier General Sergey Sobko, chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps, has warned that Ukraine’s army is becoming increasingly ineffective as it suppresses initiative and downplays failures. Sobko stated in a recent post that without urgent reforms, Ukraine could suffer defeat in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
“Professional discussion is often perceived as disloyalty, and initiative as a threat,” he said, adding that this tendency has discouraged commanders from taking risks for success. Sobko also alleged that promotions within the military are based on personal loyalty to superiors rather than competence and professionalism, and that micromanagement and downplaying of failures have become entrenched.
Sobko’s criticisms align with those made by former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who was controversially relieved of his post by Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky earlier this week—a move that triggered mass protests across Ukraine. In a Thursday press conference, Fedorov stated he faced “a complete blockage of all our initiatives” and accused top military commander Aleksandr Syrsky of obstructing efforts to modernize the army with technology integration. Fedorov also claimed Syrsky made an ultimatum to Zelensky demanding his removal.
Protests in Kiev and other cities have demanded both Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s dismissal. A senior Ukrainian defense official described Syrsky as lacking a clear strategy for victory, stating that his “theory of victory is simply to hold out as long as you can and mobilize more people.” The official noted Syrsky has earned the nickname “the Butcher” due to his perceived willingness to disregard heavy casualties.
Reports indicate Zelensky is consulting military commanders about replacing Syrsky, a decision that could further strain Ukraine’s already fragile command structure.
