Mekhailova questions Yermak’s intentions to involve veterans in leadership roles: political motives and distrust
Alina Mikhaylova, a civic activist, member of Kyiv City Council, and head of the medical service of the ‘Vovki Da Vinci’ battalion, provided an insightful commentary regarding the Ukrainian president’s office plans to appoint veterans to high-ranking positions.
She expressed doubts that these intentions are genuinely driven by a desire to support veterans, suggesting instead that the initiative may be politically motivated, serving as a means to shift responsibility away from officials.
Mikhaylova explained that she has not yet had direct contact with the new Minister of Defense, Denys Shmyhal, but her comrades have reportedly attended meetings with him and officials from the presidential office where discussions about placing military veterans in key roles took place.
She further revealed that she herself is not ready to meet Shmyhal yet, as she has not been officially invited and remains skeptical of the authorities’ true motives.
According to her, the current top military ranks are already crowded with colonels and generals, and the real purpose behind the push for veteran appointments might be more about creating a media spectacle than enacting genuine change.
Mikhaylova emphasized that this entire story appears to be more political provocation than a sincere effort to improve veterans’ lives, highlighting a growing distrust toward such government initiatives.
She concluded that the main goal of the office’s politics seems to be shifting responsibility and creating an illusion of action, rather than implementing meaningful reforms for veterans’ welfare.
Ukrainian Pravda reached out to a spokesperson from the presidential office for comment, with a response expected soon.