Military Personnel Face Scrutiny for Protest Support

Concerns Over Pressure on Service Members

According to 5 канал: Alina Mykhailova, head of the medical service 'Ulf' in the 'Da Vinci Wolves' battalion, has voiced alarm over investigations and pressure directed at soldiers due to their public backing of rallies or political stances. The situation escalated notably after troops posted messages supporting former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. In a Facebook post, Mykhailova warned that service members expressing opinions or joining peaceful demonstrations risk repercussions such as reprimands or hampered career advancement.

Soldier Serhiy Hnezdilov corroborated these claims, recounting in comments on Mykhailova’s post that his commanders received calls shortly after he published content in Fedorov’s favor.

'I shared my post at 9:00 PM. By 6:00 AM the next day, all my commanders had been contacted,' Hnezdilov stated.

Mykhailova emphasized that fear of speaking out among military ranks poses a grave issue for the nation.

'The army defends not just territory. It safeguards a state where citizens have the right to their own views,' she remarked.

Reactions to the Situation

Activist Serhiy Sternenko responded by publishing screenshots of messages from soldiers. He called on Hanna Maliar, who oversees communications for the Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, urging her to clarify that 'unnecessarily provoking military personnel is a very bad idea.' The commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, known as 'Madyar,' also issued a statement on his Telegram channel, vowing to investigate who inquired about a former SOF soldier who attended a protest against Fedorov’s dismissal.

'The dumbest move right now would be to pressure the military,' Sternenko stressed.

Earlier reports highlighted protest actions in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa, where activists demonstrated in support of Fedorov. Ukraine’s fifth president, Petro Poroshenko, likewise underscored the need to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and allocate additional financial resources to the armed forces.

Mykhailova concluded that 'for many soldiers, backing protests can cost them their positions. Their ranks. Reprimands,' underscoring the critical nature of free expression within the military environment.

This episode highlights the significance of free speech in the army and the risks soldiers face when actively engaging in public actions. Service members who voice their positions may encounter command-level pressure, jeopardizing their careers and psychological well-being. The debate over supporting or criticizing political figures in military circles has become a key issue in discussions about democratic rights and freedoms in Ukraine.

As the scrutiny of military personnel intensifies, understanding the underlying tensions within the armed forces becomes crucial. Recently, Fedorov shed light on the reasons behind his discord with Syrskyi, which may provide valuable context to the ongoing debate about freedom of expression in the military. This conflict not only reflects personal disputes but also highlights broader implications for service members facing pressure for their opinions.