Ousted Ukrainian defense minister accuses army chief Syrskyi of obstructing reform and "splitting the country"

Dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly accused Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi of obstructing military reform and "splitting the country." The clash between Fedorov — a 35-year-old reformist appointed in January 2026 — and Syrskyi laid bare the friction between civilian defense oversight and military command. Whether reforms survive Fedorov's exit now hinges on his unnamed successor.