Ukraine's Fedorov accuses General Staff of sabotaging new contract system in armed forces
Acting Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has said the leadership of Ukraine's Armed Forces is obstructing the introduction of a new contract system and has laid personal responsibility for the systemic mobilisation crisis at the feet of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Source: live broadcast of Fedorov during a briefing on 16 July
Details: Fedorov said the armed forces' successful transition to the new contract system depends directly on commanders on the ground, but that the initiative is facing deliberate resistance at the senior level.
Quote: "There are units, such as Code 9.2, where one-third of personnel have signed these contracts. And there are units where the figure is minimal. We cannot carry out this reform without the active involvement of the General Staff, which is sabotaging it."
More details: Fedorov pointed out, however, that despite the General Staff's broader sabotage, its Chief, Andrii Hnatov, personally signed the contract proposed by the Defence Ministry.
Responding to journalists' questions about conscription problems ahead of Russia's expected general mobilisation this autumn, Fedorov strongly criticised Ukraine's military chain of command. He stressed that military enlistment offices report to the Ground Forces, which are directly commanded by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Quote: "For six months, I did not respond to any of the criticism over mobilisation, precisely to avoid the situation we now find ourselves in, which the Commander-in-Chief has, in effect, brought us to... Who do the enlistment offices report to? The Ground Forces. Who do the Ground Forces report to? The Commander-in-Chief. And the General Staff oversees these issues."
More details: Fedorov identified the absence of a new social contract and conscripts' fear of incompetent commanders as the main reasons mobilisation processes failed.
He said potential recruits are not discussing the advantages of the new contracts, but the questionable decisions made by officers. As an example, he cited a former commander of the 155th Brigade who, he said, had "done the greatest harm that could possibly have been done during the full-scale war".
Quote: "The root of the problem is actually the product we offer. And what are we offering? Lies, chaos and irresponsibility. 'Go on, go on, it's not mined there.' We need to fundamentally change that product."
More details: Fedorov cited the Third Assault Corps and the Khartiia Brigade as examples of effective management. He said Khartiia has a waiting list of people seeking to join, including at least 2,000 foreign nationals.
He attributed this success to a clear doctrine, sufficient provision, strong personnel selection, and competent leadership, in which commanders do not treat subordinates merely as a resource.
Separately, Fedorov criticised authoritarian management methods in Ukraine's Armed Forces. He rejected as false the claim that the front is holding only because of Syrskyi's "dictatorial-authoritarian" style.
Quote: "Ukrainians don't need someone standing over them with a baton, driving them to the front line for 10 to 15 days under a drone threat... Ukrainians stopped the Russians because they made a choice. Because they take responsibility and are not afraid to go AWOL [absent without leave]. They need respect. They need proper contracts, clear terms of service, the possibility of transfer and decent leaders."
Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.