After the Defense Minister/ Another dismissal by Zelensky shocks the Ukrainian military

2026-07-21 22:17:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

After the Defense Minister/ Another dismissal by Zelensky shocks the Ukrainian

In the space of a few days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made the two most significant changes to the Ukrainian military leadership since the beginning of the Russian invasion, causing major shockwaves.

After the sudden dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian president also announced the dismissal of the Chief of the Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Shirsky. These two dismissals confirm that there was a deep conflict in Kiev over the strategy with which the war against Russia should continue.

The dismissal of the 35-year-old Fedorov had caused widespread reactions, with thousands of citizens taking to the streets to express their opposition, as the former minister had been identified with the modernization of the army, the development of Ukrainian drone programs, the integration of new technologies on the battlefield, and efforts to limit corruption in military procurement.

Initially, the government avoided explaining the reasons for his dismissal. However, it soon became clear that behind the crisis lay his open disagreement with General Shirskyn over the way the war was being conducted.

Fedorov argued that Ukraine, faced with Russia’s clearly greater military power, should invest even more in technology, unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and flexible operations of small units. The goal was to reduce human losses and use technological superiority as a force multiplier.

On the other hand, the 60-year-old Shirsky was considered by many officers to be a representative of the traditional Soviet military school. His critics argued that he insisted on more conventional operations, with a centralized command style and limited willingness to make radical changes to the structure and functioning of the army.

Meanwhile, the new commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is reportedly General Mykhailo Drapati, a young-generation officer who has gained considerable experience on the war fronts and is considered more familiar with new forms of operations and the use of modern weapons systems.

These developments come at a particularly critical time for Ukraine. Russian pressure on the front continues, while Kiev is trying to simultaneously manage war fatigue, mobilization difficulties and the need to maintain Western military aid. /CNA