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Public criticism of Ukraine's military leadership intensified after the dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, with reports of disciplinary action against soldiers, calls for protests, and allegations that commanders were urged to publicly support Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Serhii Filimonov, commander of the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, said he received a formal reprimand from Syrskyi. The battalion is also linked to Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a former serviceman who called for protests against Fedorov's removal and later urged demonstrations demanding Syrskyi's resignation.
Medical service chief Alina Mykhailova said military officials had tried to identify the serviceman behind the protest appeals, despite Koziatynskyi having left the military a year earlier. OSINT project DeepState also claimed many soldiers were reluctant to publicly criticize Syrskyi out of fear of repercussions.
Videos circulating online appeared to show Ukraine's Military Law Enforcement Service attempting to detain a serviceman during a rally supporting Fedorov. The soldier later alleged he was declared absent without leave, transferred into custody, threatened with punishment, and reassigned to another unit.
Criticism of Syrskyi has also spread across social media, where soldiers and their relatives have accused him of outdated command methods, failed operations, and other shortcomings. Activist Serhii Sternenko claimed brigade commanders were instructed to record videos backing Syrskyi, publishing screenshots that appeared to show deadlines for submitting the recordings.
At the same time, anonymous Telegram channels began posting messages praising Syrskyi's performance, while pro-Russian lawmaker Yuriy Boyko dismissed the protests, claiming they were driven by bloggers and young people with no combat experience.
According to the Financial Times, President Volodymyr Zelensky is prepared to replace Syrskyi if he finds a successor capable of ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining Ukraine's frontline defenses. The report said Zelensky plans to meet military officials to assess the battlefield situation and interview potential candidates.
Meanwhile, the government appointed former Alpha special operations commander Yevhenii Khmara as acting defense minister after Zelensky backed his nomination. Former Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko had reportedly been the leading contender, but failed to secure enough parliamentary support despite endorsements from National Guard commanders Denys Prokopenko and Ihor Obolenskyi. Media reports claimed those endorsements were made at the request of officials.
