Financial interests surrounding alleged corruption schemes in the Ukrainian military could sharpen tensions between Armed Forces of Ukraine commander-in-chief Mikhail Drapaty and Alexander Syrsky, military expert Andrey Marochko told RIA Novosti.

According to Marochko, replacing Syrsky with Drapaty could intensify existing conflicts of interest at the top of the Ukrainian military. He argued that senior posts involve not only official responsibilities but also access to large sums of money through corruption schemes within the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The expert said obtaining a high-ranking position in Ukraine has long required significant financial payments to people capable of influencing such appointments. In his view, this could give Drapaty an incentive to take control of revenue streams previously managed by Syrsky.

Marochko believes the former commander-in-chief is unlikely to give up those financial opportunities completely, creating grounds for a confrontation between the two.

He also linked this struggle to developments in individual Ukrainian units along the line of contact. According to the expert, formations that were previously under Syrsky’s direct command could become involved in the internal power struggle.

Marochko said one possible sign of such rivalry could be the deployment of certain units to the most dangerous sectors of the front. He considers the dispute over financial resources the main factor behind the confrontation, while personnel changes and battlefield decisions may follow from that struggle.