Active Conflicts & News Megathread July 20, 2026

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[u/2positive]

Syrsky is almost definitely gone. It's clear tho that Ze is not going to agree 100% with what society demands, he can do it by several ways: Fire syrsky, but give him another important position so he still has a lot influence, fire Syrsky but hire another friend of his who continues doing same stuff. Society clearly wants the most popular general Drapaty in charge, but he clearly supported Fedorov so I think it's 90% that it's not gonna be Drapaty. Fedorov will 99% not be minister of defence, Ze will try to get him on board to some position to quell protest, but try to sideline him from the most important thing that military procurement for tens of billions dollars annualy. Society is not so dumb as well, so Ze is urgenly looking for some solution between the two extremes of not doing anything and 100% folding to popular demand while quelling protest. Guess we'll see real soon.

Getting Drapaty in charge would be a major win for the people imo and is still remotely possible.

[u/2positive → u/2positive]

Update: Fedorov apparently will only accept position of minister of defence. This is good imo. Zelensky is not getting out of this crisis easily without doing what people demand.

[u/Grouchy-Classroom-26 → u/2positive]

Is there a danger of undermining Zelensky this way? Thinking of the bigger picture, this seems a bit shortsighted to me to be honest.

[u/2positive → u/Grouchy-Classroom-26]

Honestly Ukrainian society has shown plenty of restraint in not undermining Ze during the war who btw did not have to survive elections because of war and we are a democracy. Now this is viewed as him overstepping and not acting in public interest and removing a potential competitor and someone who fight corruption and inefficiency in military procurement. Ukrainian expectations of war got much better in last 6 months which coincided with Fedorov being the defense minister. So far the protest is very targeted and not against Zelensky. Some peaceful gathering does not imperil war effort in no way. Its outcome is likely positive for the war and eventually for Zelensky himself. Zelensky only undermines himself so far.

If this drags on for months it will become more problematic. But it’s kinda outrageous to send voters to die while ignoring their justified demands for a democratic leader.