Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, just days after the controversial removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a decision that triggered nationwide protests and intensified political pressure on the government.
The leadership shake-up follows speculation of growing tensions between Fedorov and Syrskyi, with reports now indicating that disagreements between the two played a role in the sweeping changes within Ukraine’s military leadership.
Syrskyi, 60, has been replaced by General Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, a respected battlefield commander widely regarded as a younger and more reform-minded military leader. In a Facebook post following his appointment, Drapatyi pledged to serve with responsibility and dedication while expressing gratitude to Syrskyi for his years of service in strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces.
In a video address on Tuesday, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his contributions throughout the war, particularly his role in defending Kyiv during the opening days of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The Ukrainian president also revealed that he had met with Fedorov earlier in the day and offered him what he described as a “worthy position in power”, although it remains unclear whether the former defence minister has accepted the offer.
Fedorov, 35, was appointed defence minister only in January but quickly earned praise for modernising the ministry, strengthening anti-corruption efforts and introducing technology-driven reforms to improve Ukraine’s military effectiveness. Before taking the role, he served as Minister of Digital Transformation, where he established the volunteer “IT Army of Ukraine”, launched cyber initiatives against Russia and spearheaded the successful “Army of Drones” fundraising campaign.
Following his removal, Yevhenii Khmara, a former senior official with Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), was appointed acting defence minister. Zelensky said all personnel decisions would be formally finalised the following day.
Despite leaving office, Fedorov publicly welcomed Drapatyi’s appointment, describing it as “a new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice”. He also thanked Syrskyi for his leadership in defending Kyiv and other major battles but stressed that Ukraine must move faster and learn from previous mistakes.
Fedorov’s dismissal sparked six consecutive days of protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators calling for broader military reforms and demanding changes to the country’s defence leadership. Many protesters viewed Drapatyi’s appointment as a positive step, with the new commander widely seen as a more innovative leader capable of modernising Ukraine’s armed forces.
For now, Khmara remains acting defence minister while Zelensky has instructed him and Drapatyi to prepare a new defence strategy focusing on military reforms, weapons procurement, drone warfare and improvements to Ukraine’s corps system.
Syrskyi has yet to comment directly on his dismissal. However, in an opinion piece published earlier this week, he described his relationship with Fedorov as purely professional and apologised if he had caused any offence. Addressing the ongoing protests, he argued that military decisions involving mobilisation, procurement and battlefield strategy were far more complex than public debate suggested.
While Zelensky’s latest reshuffle may help ease immediate political tensions, many Ukrainians continue to believe Fedorov should return to a senior leadership role to continue driving innovation in the country’s defence against Russia.
