Ukraine's military chief Syrskyi apologises to former defence minister Fedorov: "I was surprised to learn we had a conflict"

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has apologised to former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, saying he had not realised there was a conflict between them.

Source: Syrskyi's column for Ukrainian military media outlet Militarnyi

Quote: "I was surprised to learn that Mr Minister and I had been in conflict. I regarded our relationship as a professional one, with difficult issues and differing views. That is exactly how it should be between two institutions during a major war.

If I offended anyone in any way: Mykhailo, I apologise. I can be tough. But I ask you, and everyone who is now following this story with such fascination: let's focus not on personal matters, but on the bigger picture. On victory."

Details: Syrskyi also said that reducing this war to a confrontation between two individuals is "the greatest favour we could do the enemy".

Quote: "The second point, from which everything else I am about to say follows, is this: wars are won through real work, not through the public drama surrounding it. So what follows is not about relationships, but about work.

Let's start with the basics that have been lost in the discussion.

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for supplying the armed forces, procurement, policymaking and civilian oversight of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is an enormous job, without which the army cannot fight. The minister is not supposed to be personally present on the front line, nor is he supposed to be the war's strategist. That is neither his role nor his responsibility.

The strategy of the war, operational planning and the situation on the battlefield are, by law, my responsibility to the supreme commander-in-chief. Long-range strikes and the isolation of Crimea are carried out by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service, and are coordinated by the supreme commander-in-chief and me. Not because I am 'keeping someone away' from success, but because that is how institutional processes are organised in armies around the world."

Details: Syrskyi added that accusations that he lacks a strategy are unfounded because, he said, the strategy is reported to the supreme commander-in-chief, while its results can be seen on the battlefield.

Quote: "I have served in the army for over 40 years. I am a military man: I do not issue ultimatums to my superior, nor do I command troops through messaging apps. A million-strong army is not run through WhatsApp. It is commanded through headquarters, orders and the responsibility of commanders on the ground.

One of my recent decisions was to delegate powers to corps commanders, including authority over the transfer of service members within their corps. That is the opposite of micromanagement."

Background:

• Since 16 July, protests have been taking place in Kyiv and other cities demanding that Fedorov be reinstated as defence minister and that Syrskyi be dismissed.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi were unable to find common ground and that problems on the battlefield, within brigades and with mobilisation remained unresolved.
• On 18 July, Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Fedorov and Syrskyi. He promised that "decisions regarding the army will be worked out".
• Concerned citizens in Kyiv are preparing for a new protest in support of Fedorov and calling for the dismissal of Syrskyi.

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