Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed military chief Oleksandr Syrskii and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of Ukraine's armed forces. The move follows six days of protests in Kyiv sparked by the earlier removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had accused Syrskii of obstructing reform efforts. Syrskii, 60, led Ukraine's land forces from 2019 and was instrumental in defending Kyiv and planning the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive that recaptured Kupiansk and Izyum. He was named a "Hero of Ukraine" for his role in repelling the initial Russian invasion.
Zelenskyy described the leadership change as a necessary "reset" to strengthen front-line coordination and address internal military friction. In a social media statement, he thanked both Syrskii and incoming commander Drapatyi for their commitment to maintaining strong defensive positions. More than 10 Ukrainian generals have been dismissed since the war began in February 2022, including former Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov in September 2023 over corruption allegations and Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi in February 2024. Andrii Hnatov replaced Yuriy Sodol as commander of the Joint Forces Command in June 2024. In Russia, multiple senior military officials have also been replaced during the conflict, though specific names and positions were not detailed in the report.
The dismissal of Oleksandr Syrskii signals ongoing strain between Ukraine's political leadership and military command as wartime pressures intensify. With two successive top generals replaced within months, questions remain about how internal disputes are shaping defence strategy. The shift comes amid public unrest over leadership changes, suggesting civilian expectations are now closely tied to military appointments.
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