Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the country’s army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The move to see Zelensky sack Syrskyi comes just days after the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a decision that triggered street protests across the country.
Initial rumours linked Fedorov’s departure to a conflict with Syrskyi, and officials soon confirmed those rumours. Many in Ukraine have praised Fedorov, 35, for energising the defence ministry, transforming the armed forces, and leading a drive against corruption. By contrast, many view Syrskyi, 60, as a Soviet-school commander reluctant to implement radical changes within the army.
Who Replaces Syrskyi
Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, a popular, battle-hardened general, has now taken over from Syrskyi. Zelensky posted a video on social media late Tuesday thanking Syrskyi for his military campaigns, including his role in successfully defending the capital Kyiv during the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelensky also revealed that he had met with Fedorov earlier that day and offered him a “worthy position in power.” He did not say whether Fedorov had accepted. Yevhenii Khmara, a former top official at Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), had already replaced Fedorov as defence minister the previous week. “All decisions will be formalised tomorrow,” Zelensky added in his post.
Fedorov Welcomes the Change
Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi on his new role. He described the appointment as a new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice, calling it “the voice of change that could not be ignored.” Fedorov said he had also called Syrskyi to thank him for defending the Kyiv region and for other historic battles. He added that Ukraine needs to move even faster and correct past mistakes.
Officials appointed Fedorov as defence minister only in January, but many quickly praised his data-driven approach to improving battlefield performance. As a former minister of digital transformation, he had already made his mark early in the invasion, setting up a volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine” to launch cyberattacks against Russia. He later led a successful fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones and introduced elements of gamification into the war effort, designing a system that awarded Ukrainian military units credits for hitting Russian assets.
Protests Preceded the Dismissal
Fedorov’s ousting sparked six days of widespread protests. Zelensky faced mounting pressure throughout that period to dismiss Syrskyi. He ultimately appeared to bow to that pressure, replacing Syrskyi with Drapatyi, a younger commander widely seen as more innovative and reportedly a close friend of Fedorov’s.
Fedorov’s clear endorsement of Drapatyi is likely to help defuse the political crisis of the past week. Acting Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara remains in his position for now. Zelensky has asked Khmara and Drapatyi to develop a new defence strategy addressing key issues, including reform of the military corps system, weapons supply and drone capabilities.
Syrskyi Responds Before His Removal
Syrskyi had not publicly commented on the latest developments as of Tuesday. He wrote an op-ed for the Militarny website on Monday, before his dismissal, addressing his relationship with Fedorov. He described it as a working one and offered an apology if he had offended him.
Regarding the protests held in several Ukrainian cities, Syrskyi argued that issues around military contracts, procurement and mobilisation were far more complicated than the slogans used by protesters suggested. “Decisions on which people’s lives depend are not made with slogans,” he wrote. “Real work, not the public drama surrounding it, wins the war.”
Protesters will still want to see Fedorov placed in a position of real authority, where he can continue driving innovation in Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Zelensky will have repaired the immediate damage if Fedorov receives such a role. Many, however, are unlikely to forgive what they viewed as the wrong initial decision.
