Ukrainian lawmaker Mariana Bezuhla publicly criticized President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, and Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko, claiming that military air defense planning has reached a “dead end.” Bezuhla released a statement and photograph from a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff via Telegram, pointing to systemic leadership failures amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Air Defense Leadership and Staff Criticisms
Bezuhla asserted that 61-year-old Air Force Commander Anatolii Kryvonozhko should have retired long ago, alleging that the president refuses to approve his dismissal. According to Bezuhla’s Telegram post, Kryvonozhko sometimes sleeps during meetings. The lawmaker also criticized Deputy Defense Minister for Defense Industry Development Anna Hvozdiar, claiming she “knows nothing” beyond attending forums and roundtables and only “pretends to know.”
The criticisms extend to deputy in the OP Palisa, whom Bezuhla stated attempts to explain things without success. Bezuhla argued that Ukraine currently lacks a defense plan, while the work of Mykhailo Fedorov has been “removed.” Pavel Yelisarov, a commander of drone forces and former deputy commander of the Air Force with the call sign “Lazar,” resigned in protest against Zelenskyy’s decision to remove Fedorov from the post of minister of defense.
Technological Developments and Interceptor Testing
The political friction over military leadership coincides with Ukrainian efforts to field counter-drone technologies against Russian attacks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently released video footage demonstrating the deployment of a new Ukrainian interceptor designed to counter Russian jet UAVs, including Shahed-type drones. Zelenskyy reported that these interceptors have undergone successful combat testing.