Syrskyi Apologizes to Fedorov

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has apologized to former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a rare personal statement. He said he had only learned of the alleged conflict between them after it became public.

Syrskyi said he does not normally comment publicly but decided to respond because many had interpreted his silence as confirmation of claims that there was a rift within the armed forces and the General Staff.

He said he had always regarded his relationship with Fedorov as professional despite their differences of opinion. At the same time, he acknowledged that he can be harsh and apologized to Fedorov.

Syrskyi called for attention to be focused not on personal disputes but on winning the war. He warned that dividing society into "Fedorov's camp" and "Syrskyi's camp" plays into Russia's hands.

He also outlined the division of responsibilities between the Ministry of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief. According to Syrskyi, the ministry is responsible for procurement, logistics and defense policy, while strategy and the conduct of military operations fall under the Commander-in-Chief's authority.

Syrskyi also rejected criticism that he was obstructing the use of drones. He said he had helped establish Ukraine's unmanned systems units but argued that drones alone would not win the war and had to be complemented by other weapons.

Following his dismissal, Fedorov accused Syrskyi of deepening divisions and blocking reforms. His departure sparked protests in Ukraine and a broader debate about the leadership of the armed forces.

(kyivpost, bak)