Ukraine can't win a war of attrition, ex-Azov officer says

The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell speaks with Bohdan Krotevych, a Ukrainian military veteran, former chief of staff of the Azov Brigade, and one of the most outspoken critics of former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The conversation follows a military leadership shake-up that came after nationwide protests calling for Syrskyi’s removal. Krotevych explains why Syrskyi’s leadership faced growing criticism, what led to his dismissal, and why he believes Mykhailo Drapatyi’s appointment offers an opportunity to reform Ukraine’s Armed Forces. The conversation also explores the army’s manpower crisis, the ongoing spring–summer campaign on the battlefield, and the challenges of the upcoming winter season. Subscribe to our channel for more independent reporting from Ukraine. Become a member of our community: https://kyivindependent.com/membershi... Your support allows us to bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world. Bohdan Krotevych on X: https://x.com/BohdanKrotevych Audio dubbing provided by an AI-generated voice. 00:00 Intro 00:31 Why Syrskyi was dismissed 01:32 Support independent journalism in Ukraine 02:04 Ukraine after Syrskyi 04:05 What went wrong under Syrskyi? 09:47 The army's leadership culture 13:46 Ukraine's manpower crisis 20:06 The problematic assault forces 22:48 Drapatyi's biggest challenges 29:40 Ukraine a year from now 31:45 Outro