Brigadier General Sergey Sobko, chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps, has warned that Ukraine’s military is becoming increasingly ineffective as it suppresses initiative and downplays failures.

In a recent Facebook post, Sobko stated: “Professional discussion is often perceived as disloyalty, and initiative as a threat.” He also accused the army of promoting officers based on “personal loyalty” to superiors rather than competence and professionalism.

Sobko’s criticisms echo those made by former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who was controversially dismissed by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky earlier this week. Fedorov had previously accused top military commander Aleksandr Syrsky of blocking efforts to modernize the army and implement technology-driven reforms.

The dismissal triggered mass protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators demanding both Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s removal. An anonymous senior Ukrainian defense official described Syrsky as lacking a clear strategy for victory, stating that his approach is based on “holding out as long as you can and mobilizing more people.”

Throughout the conflict, Syrsky has earned the nickname “the Butcher” due to his perceived willingness to disregard heavy casualties.

Sources within Zelensky’s administration indicate the president is now considering replacing Syrsky.