Zelensky dismisses Ukrainian army commander, appoints joint forces commander as his successor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, amid a deepening political crisis triggered by the ouster of the widely popular Defense Minister more than two weeks ago.

Syrskyi, 60, has served as army commander since 2024 and is one of Kyiv’s most experienced military leaders, having led the defense of the capital at the outset of the Russian invasion in 2022.

His dismissal comes days after protests in support of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who accused Syrskyi of forcing him out of office and obstructing his efforts to reform the military establishment.

Zelenskyy said, “I have decided that Mykhailo Drapatyi will be the new Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

He added, “I express my gratitude to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to all our fighters for the resilience of our strong positions on the front line.”

Questions have emerged regarding Syrskyi’s future following the dismissal of Fedorov, who enjoyed considerable popularity, just six months after his appointment.

Fedorov, a 35-year-old technology expert, accused Syrskyi of thwarting his plans to modernize the army and pressuring Zelenskyy to dismiss him, allegations that Syrskyi denied.

Ukrainian media had previously reported on tensions and discord in the relationship between the two men.