To the Ukrainians, Zelensky is Not a Hero, Just a Politician | Stefan Korshak

The dismissal of Ukraine’s popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked protests across the country. Many saw his sacking over reported conflict with top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi as a massive blunder by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Is Ukraine’s wartime leader losing his touch?

“Zelenskyy is generally viewed as a relatively effective leader who has performed beyond expectations and earned a great deal of respect. At the same time, Ukrainians don’t usually see him in the heroic terms that are sometimes used in the West,” Stefan Korshak, Senior Defense Correspondent at Kyiv Post, told TVP World, explaining that they rather view him as a politician with his own agenda, with some even believing Zelensky dismissed Fedorov because his rising popularity could eventually make him a possible challenger.

“The general feeling is that Zelenskyy is doing a better job than Putin, but he is still accountable to Ukrainian voters, and if they don’t like his decisions, they are prepared to make their voices heard,” he added.

Join TVP World’s Ashim Kumar and his guest as they explore what was behind Fedorov and Syrskyi butting heads, what the soldiers in the trenches think, and how much of the credit for Ukraine’s recent successes can actually be chalked up to the defense officials in Kyiv.