KYIV, Ukraine (AP) 鈥� President on Tuesday fired Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of and named his replacement, following days of mass protests in Kyiv, the country’s capital, and other cities across the nation demanding his removal.
It was the Zelenskyy has made under street pressure, after protests last summer forced him to undo a law weakening Ukraine鈥檚 anti-corruption watchdogs.
Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as , according to a statement on social media. 鈥淥ur shared wish is one 鈥� victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace,鈥� Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader said he made the decision after a series of meetings with military commanders. They began shortly after protests broke out demanding the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, seen by demonstrators as a driver of military modernization, and the removal of Syrskyi, who they said embodied the army鈥檚 old, Soviet-style command culture.
Zelenskyy thanked Syrskyi for his achievements in Ukraine’s fight against Russia and praised him for the defense of Kyiv and for operations in Kharkiv and Kursk.
鈥淚 am grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to every one of our warriors for Ukraine鈥檚 strong front-line positions,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am grateful to Mykhailo Drapatyi for holding that same view.鈥�
Drapatyi wrote in a Facebook post that serving Ukraine “has always been an honor for me, and during this war for independence, it means absolute responsibility.鈥� He thanked Syrskyi for his consistent work strengthening the Ukrainian military.
鈥淚 grew up in it,鈥� he added, referring to the army. 鈥淚 will work responsibly, with focus and with respect for the people defending our state today.鈥�
Zelenskyy said Drapatyi and other commanders must present an updated defense strategy, including continued reform of the corps system, faster weapons and drone deliveries, stronger air defense against Russian strikes and a clearer mobilization plan.
Former defense minister’s future in the government remains unclear
Zelenskyy met separately with Fedorov on Tuesday and offered him what he called a respected position in the government that would unify the country鈥檚 technology sector. It wasn’t clear if Fedorov accepted the offer 鈥� or whether the latest moves would satisfy protesters and calm the streets.
Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi, calling the appointment 鈥渘ew hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice鈥� and 鈥渁 voice for change that could not go unheard.鈥�
Fedorov had criticized Syrskyi publicly before his dismissal, saying the general was blocking his reform efforts and needed to be replaced for Ukraine not to fail in its resistance against Russia. He said Ukrainians鈥� high expectations must now be met with a clear vision for ending the war, decisive action to preserve soldiers鈥� lives, expand robotic warfare at the front, strike asymmetrically and exhaust Russia鈥檚 economy.
Fedorov called Syrskyi to thank him for defending the Kyiv region, the Kharkiv operation and other battles, calling it 鈥渁lready an important part of Ukraine鈥檚 history鈥� but adding that the country must 鈥渕ove even faster and write new chapters, correcting all previous mistakes.鈥�
The army chief’s dismissal was sparked by protests
The crisis began last Thursday, when Zelenskyy overhauled his wartime government, replacing his prime minister and firing Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister after just six months in the post.
Zelenskyy cited an unworkable rift between Fedorov and Syrskyi, telling reporters that as the two couldn鈥檛 resolve their dispute, he would 鈥渉ave to resolve it.鈥�
Following his dismissal, Fedorov publicly accused Syrskyi of blocking military reforms and fostering a top-down command culture, criticism that echoed complaints from soldiers and veterans over heavy casualties in costly front-line assaults.
The reshuffle immediately drew thousands of protesters into the streets of Kyiv and other cities, framing Fedorov鈥檚 removal as Zelenskyy siding with an entrenched military old guard over a reformer.
The backlash promptly spread to inside the military: the Air Force鈥檚 deputy commander resigned in protest, warning the move would weaken Ukraine鈥檚 air defenses; veterans and soldiers on leave joined the protests in Kyiv and other cities, and numerous public figures among soldiers spoke out publicly against Syrskyi on social media.
Criticism of the military chief had escalated
Syrskyi has long been associated with a Soviet-style, top-down command culture, and many protesters said they wanted a new generation of generals who would place a higher priority on preserving soldiers鈥� lives.
Within the military, Syrskyi has earned the gruesome nickname of 鈥淏utcher,鈥� which particularly spread during his command of the defense of Bakhmut, one of the war鈥檚 longest and costliest battles.
His already precarious public standing eroded further after Ukrainian outlet Babel published an investigation in June detailing allegations of abuse within the Skelia assault regiment, a unit closely associated with Syrskyi that has reportedly suffered higher-than-average battlefield losses. The investigation documented dozens of deaths among recruits.
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