Brigades ordered to record videos in support of Ukraine’s military chief Syrskyi

Roman Petrenko, Olha Kyrylenko - 18 July, 11:51

Oleksandr Syrskyi

Serhii Sternenko, a volunteer and former advisor to Ukraine's defence minister, has said that commanders of Ukrainian brigades have been ordered to record video statements in support of Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Ukrainska Pravda sources within the military have confirmed that such an instruction was issued.

Source: Sternenko on social media; Ukrainska Pravda sources within the military

Details: According to one servicemember, whose screenshots Sternenko provided, brigade commanders received instructions on the morning of 18 July to record and post videos in support of Syrskyi by 17:00.

Another servicemember said the task came from the Air Assault Forces command. A further source said the preparation of the videos was assigned to brigades' communications units.

An Ukrainska Pravda source within the defence forces also said "our brigade commanders have been handed a task to record video statements".

Quote from Sternenko: "Brigade commanders have been given an order to record videos in support of Syrskyi.

Servicemembers who won't obey are being punished."

More details: Sternenko also claims that a servicemember from the Skelia unit released a post criticising Syrskyi, after which he disappeared and his account was deleted. There is currently no additional information or evidence to support this part of the claim. [The Ukrainian State Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal probe into the 425th Separate Assault Regiment "Skelia" following reports of at least 26 noncombat deaths, physical abuse and inadequate medical care for recruits. The unit's commander was suspended, and authorities are currently investigating allegations of systemic abuse.]

Previously: Earlier, Ukraine's National Guard corps commanders expressed support for Ihor Klymenko, who could head the Defence Ministry, saying he had already done a great deal for the military as head of the Interior Ministry and has enough experience to work in the new post.

Background:

On 16 July, protests in support of the former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov took place near the President's Office in Kyiv and in a number of Ukrainian cities. The protesters called on the authorities to reinstate Fedorov in the new government and not to hand the defence minister position over to Ihor Klymenko.
Commenting on the upcoming changes at the Defence Ministry, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi were unable to work together effectively and that problems on the battlefield, in military brigades and with mobilisation remain unresolved.
Zelenskyy said it was right that Ukrainian citizens are able to take part in peaceful demonstrations and express their views even during wartime, adding that he had "not yet made a final decision" on the issue they had raised.
Later, however, Zelenskyy said he would propose the appointment of Yevhen Khmara as defence minister to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament). Khmara, who is currently the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, will now carry out the duties of Ukraine's defence minister on the president's instruction.
On 17 July, protests in support of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov were continuing in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine for the second day in a row following his dismissal. People are demanding he be reinstated, and that Oleksandr Syrskyi be dismissed.

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