Kyiv military row risks war momentum as European sanctions fatigue grows
Public protests over the dismissal of reformist minister Mykhailo Fedorov threaten to derail Ukraine's renewed military momentum just as European enthusiasm for sanctions wanes.
Thousands of Ukrainians have protested against commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, demanding his departure after Volodymyr Zelenskyy sacked minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The public backlash underscores growing domestic frustration over military leadership during a critical phase of the war. Demonstrators are angered by the removal of a figure who clashed openly with the general.
The 35-year-old Fedorov was widely recognised for reducing corruption and boosting Ukraine's military capabilities. Following his dismissal, he accused the general of obstructing reforms and refusing to cooperate. General Syrskyi, a Soviet-trained officer, claimed he was "surprised to learn …[of] a conflict" and argued the minister had overstepped by attempting to control military units directly. The two men fundamentally clashed over Fedorov's attempts to overhaul the deeply unpopular conscription system.
This internal power struggle threatens to derail Ukraine's recently regained battlefield momentum. Russia's massive expansion of ground forces failed to deliver a decisive advantage during its spring offensive. Instead, Kyiv has shifted to attacking Russian logistics and critical infrastructure deep inside the country.
United Nations figures show civilian casualties jumped 37% in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, Ukrainian strikes have triggered fuel rationing across Russia and created severe petrol, water and electricity shortages in Crimea, eroding domestic support for the Kremlin's war effort.
However, former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now ambassador to London, cautioned against assuming Moscow is defeated. He warned this week that Russia intends to exploit its sheer size and the "weakening of international support" to exhaust Ukraine "economically, militarily and psychologically".
For European policymakers, the infighting in Kyiv arrives at an unwelcome moment. European enthusiasm for imposing enhanced sanctions on Moscow is already wavering. Western leaders are prioritising stability, and the public feuding risks reinforcing doubts about Ukraine's long-term viability as a recipient of continued economic and military aid.
While the US president struck a surprisingly positive tone at this month's Nato summit, remarking that there was "a lot of love in that room", European capitals cannot rely on sustained American engagement. The row also highlights the constraints on Zelenskyy's authority. Past public backlash, including protests that forced a U-turn on stripping anti-corruption agencies of their independence, proves that while elections are paused, the Ukrainian president remains answerable to his citizens.
