Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed General Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, following several days of protests in kyiv and other cities demanding his ouster. In his place, he appointed Mijailo Drapatyi, according to an official statement.
“Our shared desire is one: victory over the enemy,” Zelenskyy declared.
Citizen pressure and internal changes
It was Zelenskyy’s second major turn under pressure from public opinion. The protests also demanded the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mikhailo Fedorov, seen as a driver of military modernization. Syrskyi was criticized for representing a Soviet-style command culture.
Zelenskyy thanked Syrskyi for the defense of kyiv and the operations in Kharkiv and Kursk. He then introduced Drapatyi as the new boss.
Drapatyi wrote on Facebook:
“Serving Ukraine has always been an honor for me… I will work with responsibility, with focus and with respect for the people who defend our State today.”
Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi and called the appointment “a new hope in the struggle of free peoples for freedom and justice.” Zelenskyy offered Fedorov a position to unify the technology sector, but it was not confirmed whether he accepted.
Fedorov had publicly criticized Syrskyi, saying that he was blocking his reforms and that he should be replaced. After the impeachment, he called Syrskyi to thank him for his contributions, but noted that the country must move faster and correct mistakes.
