According to a report by the British 'Financial Times' on July 18th, Ukrainian President Zelensky is considering removing General Alexander Sheretsky from his position as commander-in-chief of the armed forces in order to quell public protests.
A senior Ukrainian government official revealed that Zelensky will convene several military commanders over the weekend to hear their assessments of the battlefield situation, and to consider candidates who could replace Sorski. Zelensky is willing to replace Sorski, but only if his successor can ensure a smooth transition of command and maintain the Ukrainian army's defenses along its 1200-kilometer front line.
Zelenskyy met with several Ukrainian military commanders via video on social media platforms.
This crisis arose after Zelenskyy removed Defense Minister Mikhail Fiedorov from his position around a week ago. Fiedorov stated that Serhski had previously informed Zelenskyy to request his removal from office. Zelenskyy also admitted that their relationship had deteriorated to the point where they could no longer communicate directly, and they only sat down for conversations when he intervened as a mediator.
Fedorov accused Sierski of hindering reforms in the Department of Defense and allowing corruption. He also argued that the Ukrainian military should rely more on drones and automation technology to carry out asymmetric warfare with fewer casualties.
After Fedorov was dismissed, the protests quickly turned their attention to Sierski. Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside of the President’s office in Kiev, chanting "Sierski step down". Veterans and some active-duty military personnel also joined the protest, demanding the removal of Sierski and the reinstatement of Fedorov.
Sierski is accused of undergoing heavy casualties in order to achieve military objectives, and has been referred to as a “butcher” by some Ukrainian soldiers. He replaced Zaluzhny as the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army in February 2024, and has not yet responded directly to these accusations.
