Zelenskyy receives battlefield updates from commanders after Fedorov's dismissal
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has heard reports from defence forces combat commanders and announced a special meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff following the decision to replace the defence minister.
Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Quote: "Important reports from combat commanders on the situation in the most intense directions. Today, I spoke with Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Robert Brovdi, Commander of the 1st Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, Denys Prokopenko, Commander of the 2nd Corps Khartiia of the National Guard of Ukraine, Ihor Obolenskyi, Deputy Commander of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andrii Tkachuk, and Interim Commander of the 19th Army Corps of the Operational Command South of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Skred. I am grateful to everyone for the tangible results delivered for Ukraine."
Details: Zelenskyy said the commanders have briefed him on the frontline situation, the degradation of Russian forces and logistical support for Ukrainian units.
The president noted that Ukrainian forces continue to carry out defensive operations and are fulfilling the tasks assigned on each front.
Quote: "We focused on the need for a larger-scale supply of drones used at operational depth. We also discussed the challenges of producing and supplying fibre-optic drones. The success of the programme for the fair distribution of personnel among combat brigades was recognised. The programme has been in place since December of last year and will continue. Khartiia's unique experience in recruiting foreign volunteers to defend Ukraine should be expanded to other units as well, and we discussed what is needed to make that happen."
More details: Zelenskyy also thanked Denys Prokopenko, the commander of Azov, for his attention to the exchange process and the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war and promised there will be relevant instructions based on today's discussions.
Quote: "We are preparing a special Staff meeting with the participation of corps commanders and the leading manufacturers of the weapons and equipment currently needed on the front line."
Previously: On 16 July, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would propose that Parliament appoint Yevhen Khmara as defence minister. Khmara, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), has been tasked by the president with acting as Ukraine's defence minister in the interim.
Background:
- Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has summed up his time in office, thanked those who supported him and said he will continue his mission to "defeat the enemy through asymmetry, the speed of innovation and the power of organisation".
- Fedorov has also said he called for Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, to be replaced, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not agree. According to Fedorov, all the Defence Ministry's proposals to improve the armed forces' operations on the front line encountered resistance from the commander-in-chief.
- Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, has responded to criticism from Fedorov during a briefing on the situation in the Armed Forces. Syrskyi recalled the Kyiv defensive operation of 2022 and said he hopes Fedorov will remain on Ukraine's team.
- A protest against the dismissal of Fedorov has been taking place in the centre of the capital for a second day running.
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