Zelensky Dismisses Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi Following Protests Over Defence Minister's Removal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the country's army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The decision follows days of nationwide street protests triggered by the recent removal of the popular Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.
Initial rumours of a conflict between the 35-year-old Fedorov and the 60-year-old Syrskyi were confirmed as the driver behind the leadership changes. Fedorov had been widely praised for energising the defence ministry, leading anti-corruption efforts, and transforming the armed forces. In contrast, Syrskyi was viewed by many in Ukraine as a Soviet-school commander who was reluctant to implement radical changes within the military.
New Military Leadership Appointed
Syrskyi has been replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, a popular and battle-hardened general who is regarded as a younger, more innovative commander. Drapatyi is also understood to be a close friend of Fedorov.
In a video address shared on social media late on Tuesday, President Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his military campaigns. He specifically highlighted Syrskyi's role in the successful defence of the capital, Kyiv, during the initial days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelensky stated that all formal decisions regarding the appointments would be finalised on Wednesday.
Zelensky also revealed that he met with Fedorov earlier on Tuesday to offer him a "worthy position in power." However, the president did not confirm whether Fedorov had accepted the offer. Last week, Fedorov was replaced as defence minister by Yevhenii Khmara, a former top official from Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), who currently remains in the post as acting defence minister.
Fedorov Welcomes the Appointment of Drapatyi
Following the announcement, Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi on his new role, describing the appointment as "new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice" and "the voice of change that could not be ignored." Fedorov also disclosed that he had called Syrskyi to thank him for his defence of the Kyiv region and other "historic battles," adding, "But we need to move even faster and write new chapters correcting all previous mistakes."
Fedorov, who was appointed defence minister in January, built a strong reputation for using data to analyse and improve front-line performance. As the former minister of digital transformation, he established a volunteer "IT Army of Ukraine" to launch cyber-attacks against Russia early in the conflict. He also led the "Army of Drones" fundraising campaign and introduced gamification elements to the war effort, allowing military units to earn credits for striking Russian assets.
Political Fallout and Future Strategy
Fedorov's removal prompted six days of widespread protests across several Ukrainian cities, placing mounting pressure on Zelensky to dismiss Syrskyi. The appointment of Drapatyi, backed by Fedorov's clear endorsement, is expected to help defuse the political crisis.
President Zelensky has instructed acting Defence Minister Khmara and the newly appointed Drapatyi to draft a new defence strategy. This strategy is expected to address critical issues, including reforming the military corps system, weapons supply, and drone operations.
Syrskyi has not yet commented publicly on his dismissal. However, in an op-ed published Monday on the Militarny website, he described his relationship with Fedorov as "working" and wrote, "If I offended anyone, Mykhailo Albertovych [Fedorov], I'm sorry." Addressing the public protests, Syrskyi argued that military contracts, procurement, and mobilisation are highly complex issues, stating, "Decisions on which people's lives depend are not made with slogans. Real work, not the public drama surrounding it, wins the war."
