This is not hyperbole.
They dismissed their defense minister, who had overseen Ukraine's drone strategy, the development of integrated digital systems, and anti-corruption initiatives.
Meanwhile, the General Staff remained in place despite controversial battlefield decisions, including the prolonged defense of cities such as Bakhmut, which critics argue resulted in heavy casualties. According to these critics, after one general was arrested over allegations that civilians had been shot following a noise dispute, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi gave Zelensky an ultimatum: either the defense minister would go, or he would.
Syrskyi has also been accused by critics of pulling units from the flanks of commanders he disliked, making it easier to replace them with officers loyal to him. Other allegations claim that forces under his command have used lethal force against their own soldiers, drawing comparisons to practices associated with some Russian commanders.
At the same time, protests have taken place in major cities across Ukraine.
When Zelensky dismissed Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the widely praised first Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, I asked a military analyst why. His response was: "Never forget, Zelensky is a political animal as well."
The only two figures who consistently polled as more popular than Zelensky were also the two people he ultimately removed from their positions.