In brief
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed army commander‐in‑chief Oleksandr Syrskyi after a week of street protests following the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The move, driven by tensions between the two military leaders, has led to the appointment of the youngest commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi, a battle‑hardened general closely tied to Fedorov. Zelensky’s public statements praise Syrskyi’s role in defending Kyiv and signal a new offensive strategy under Drapatyi’s command. The reshuffle leaves the army in a turbulence‑laden transition, with protesters demanding a return to Fedorov’s innovative leadership.
Zelensky Fires Top Army Chief Amid Protests, Names Younger Commander
President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Ukraine’s army commander‑in‑chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, amid waves of street demonstrations after the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov three days earlier.
Rumours that the earlier decision had to do with a clash between Fedorov and Syrskyi were swiftly confirmed. Fedorov, 35, was lauded for galvanising the ministry and spearheading anti‑corruption reforms, while Syrskyi, 60, is seen by many as a Soviet‑school commander reluctant to implement radical changes.
In a farewell address on Telegram, Syrskyi declared that the army “now on the offensive” and hoped the surge would continue as he passed the baton to Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, a battle‑hardened general with a reputation for youthful energy.
Drapatyi, who later posted on Facebook, pledged to work responsibly, focusing on respecting the troops, and thanked Syrskyi for strengthening the army. He added that he “grew up in it.”
Zelensky’s video post highlighted Syrskyi’s role in defending Kyiv during Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022, and a separate meeting with Fedorov saw the president offer him a “worthy position in power”, a move still awaiting confirmation.
In the interim, Acting Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara, formerly a top SBU official, remains in place while the president urges him and Drapatyi to devise a new defence strategy covering reforms, weapons supply and drone use.
Fedorov publicly congratulated Drapatyi and called the appointment “a new hope in the fight for freedom and justice”. He also thanked Syrskyi for the historic defence of the Kyiv region and urged the army to “move even faster” to correct past mistakes.
The protests that followed Fedorov’s dismissal continue, with many demanding his reinstatement to lead innovative military initiatives. The political crisis, fueled by the arrests of leading military figures, remains unresolved as Zelensky seeks to balance public pressure with strategic military decisions.
