Changes

Zelensky tapped the acting head of the [[Security Service of Ukraine]], Yevhenii Khmara, to serve in Fedorov's stead. Yet the middle strike strategy could not be sustained without Fedorov, who not only masterminded it but was willing to accept the political sacrifices necessary to make it work.

Zelensky tapped the acting head of the [[Security Service of Ukraine]], Yevhenii Khmara, to serve in Fedorov's stead. Yet the middle strike strategy could not be sustained without Fedorov, who not only masterminded it but was willing to accept the political sacrifices necessary to make it work.

Executing a strike program along those lines required prodigious investments and a recalibration of Ukrainian [[logistics]] structures, which is where Fedorov ran into trouble. Fedorov understood that he cannot hit the procurement and sustainment targets needed for a middle strike strategy without rolling back the [[graft]], [[embezzlement]], and [[cronyism]] that has become endemic to Ukraine's war effort.

Executing a strike program along those lines required prodigious investments and a recalibration of Ukrainian [[logistics]] structures, which is where Fedorov ran into trouble. Fedorov understood that he cannot hit the procurement and sustainment targets needed for a middle strike strategy without rolling back the graft, [[embezzlement]], and [[cronyism]] that has become endemic to Ukraine's war effort.

This meant, in practice, cutting out politically well-connected suppliers with [[profit]] margins well outside what can be achieved under normal [[market]] conditions and enforcing a system of competitive tenders designed to aggressively drive down per unit [[price]]s of [[munition]]s and other equipment. "We acted harshly as a state by breaking some companies' business strategies. But how can I justify buying shells we already have in surplus when we have shortages of other types of [[ammunition]]?" Fedorov said.

This meant, in practice, cutting out politically well-connected suppliers with [[profit]] margins well outside what can be achieved under normal [[market]] conditions and enforcing a system of competitive tenders designed to aggressively drive down per unit [[price]]s of munitions and other equipment. "We acted harshly as a state by breaking some companies' business strategies. But how can I justify buying shells we already have in surplus when we have shortages of other types of [[ammunition]]?" Fedorov said.

This procurement [[mental]]ity, coupled with Fedorov's efforts to reform the [[AFU]]'s bloated and overstretched corps system, did not make him many friends in Ukraine's [[domestic]]ly powerful [[miliary-industrial complex|defense-industrial sector]] and [[military]] [[bureaucracy]]. Fedorov reportedly sought the dismissal of the AFU's [[Commander-in-Chief]], [[Oleksandr Syrskyi]], whom he saw as emblematic of a [[Soviet]]-era mindset standing athwart the deep structural changes needed to keep Ukraine's war effort alive.

This procurement [[mental]]ity, coupled with Fedorov's efforts to reform the [[AFU]]'s bloated and overstretched corps system, did not make him many friends in Ukraine's [[domestic]]ly powerful [[military-industrial complex|defense-industrial sector]] and [[military]] [[bureaucracy]]. Fedorov reportedly sought the dismissal of the AFU's [[Commander-in-Chief]], [[Oleksandr Syrskyi]], whom he saw as emblematic of a [[Soviet]]-era mindset standing athwart the deep structural changes needed to keep Ukraine's war effort alive.

But the much more savvy [[Syrskyi]] proved himself a deft political operator. It did not take much convincing to align the numerous [[oligarch]]s and [[elitism|elites]] that stood to lose from Fedorov's reforms into a bloc against him. Fedorov had not succeeded in shaping a countervailing [[coalition]] of [[stakeholder]]s willing to expend [[capital]] on shielding him from political attacks.

But the much more savvy [[Syrskyi]] proved himself a deft political operator. It did not take much convincing to align the numerous [[oligarch]]s and [[elitism|elites]] that stood to lose from Fedorov's reforms into a bloc against him. Fedorov had not succeeded in shaping a countervailing [[coalition]] of stakeholders willing to expend [[capital]] on shielding him from political attacks.

Zelensky continued running on a surplus of political goodwill — ironically, generated in large part by the successes of the man he just fired.

Zelensky continued running on a surplus of political goodwill — ironically, generated in large part by the successes of the man he just fired.