Sovoks and Technocrats

For several days now, protests have been raging across Ukraine, triggered by the dismissal of the "effective" Defense Minister Fedorov and his replacement by Syrsky. These latest reshuffles within the ruling elite merely demonstrate a lack of unity and an intense power struggle ahead of potential elections—contests for which Zelensky is trying to eliminate any competition. While many protesters are clearly dissatisfied with the authorities in general, the majority of those filmed and interviewed by the Western press champion the "effective military minister Fedorov," whom they credit with turning the tide of the war in Ukraine's favor. In essence, Fedorov successfully executed a media campaign that cast him as an innovator—a sort of Steve Jobs or Elon Musk of the military world. He would appear in a simple black T-shirt against a backdrop of stylish infographics, adhering to the playbook of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

He effectively framed the war as a game where one racks up points—as if every conscript would soon be piloting a drone rather than storming damp trenches under a barrage of artillery fire. His leadership is primarily credited with achievements in deep-strike attacks on Russian territory; yet, these do not alter the fundamental reality that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are in retreat, plagued by a massive infantry shortage and chronic, unresolved structural issues within the army. Against the backdrop of Fedorov’s media success, Zelensky is increasingly losing influence and popularity—not only among the public but also among the war’s key Western backers. Clearly, financial interests held by various factions within the ruling elite lie behind this conflict; each group seeks to control the massive inflows of money and aid, a dynamic linked to the various high-level government reshuffles that have occurred throughout the war.

The most interesting aspect here is witnessing the full-blown clash between pro-Western figures—represented by Fedorov and his supporters—and the so-called *sovoks* (Soviet holdovers). For years, Ukraine has tried to disown everything Soviet—an effort that has effectively become its sole national idea. It is a struggle against its own past—a past that gave Ukraine everything it possesses, yet which is being destroyed daily by the actions of the authorities. Attempts are made to frame the Soviet era as an occupation, ignoring the fact that the Reds triumphed thanks to immense popular support—including that of the Ukrainian people—and that the Great Patriotic War merely reaffirmed where the masses stood. In essence, the current regime tries to blame all its problems on this nebulous "Soviet legacy," including its wartime failures—as if some "Soviet-style" generals were somehow hindering an army that ought to be fighting with cyborgs and drones from behind a laptop, without forced conscription raids or suicidal assaults. By latching onto the pro-Western narrative, Fedorov has successfully positioned himself in stark opposition to these phantom *sovoks*.

In any case, elections or government reshuffles will change little for ordinary Ukrainians: there will be no "drone war"—war cannot exist without infantry—and no matter how technocratic the leadership appears, it is all just a smokescreen to drag you into their conscription van.

The war is essentially lost before it even ends; we are like South Vietnam, destined to be abandoned the moment funding us becomes politically inconvenient. We must use martial law and the state's perpetual crisis to transform this reactionary war into a revolutionary one. Only this can save Ukraine.

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