Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Tuesday the dismissal of General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, following days of mass protests demanding his replacement. Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed as the new army chief, according to a social media post from the president.
"We all want the same thing: to defeat the enemy and create the conditions – on the front line and through pressure on Russia – that would allow us to force Russia into peace," Zelensky wrote. "Tomorrow, we will formalize all of these decisions. Ukraine must emerge from this situation stronger, and it will be harder for Russia. Glory to Ukraine!"
This marks the second significant personnel change made by Zelensky under pressure from protesters. Last summer, public demonstrations led to him reversing a law that would have weakened Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs.
The decision to replace the nation's top army chief came after a series of meetings with military commanders in the wake of protests that erupted across the country last week. Demonstrators had called for the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whom they viewed as a driving force behind military modernization, and for the dismissal of Syrskyi. Syrskyi had reportedly earned the nickname "Butcher" within the military due to his controversial command decisions and faced criticism for mass casualties in costly front-line assaults.
Fedorov, who served as defense minister from January to July of this year, was dismissed by Zelensky six months into his term. Zelensky met with Fedorov on Tuesday, offering him a government position focused on unifying the country's technology sector, though it remained unclear if Fedorov accepted the offer.
Fedorov had previously criticized Syrskyi for obstructing his reform efforts, stating that Syrskyi's replacement was necessary for Ukraine's resistance against Russia. However, he also acknowledged Syrskyi's role in defending the Kyiv region and in military operations in Kharkiv and other battles.
Syrskyi had held the position of commander-in-chief since February 2024 and had been praised by Zelensky for the defense of Kyiv and operations in Kharkiv and Kursk. "I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to every one of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions," Zelensky stated, adding that he was "grateful to Mykhailo Drapatyi for holding that same view."
Public unrest began last Thursday after Zelensky restructured his wartime government and dismissed Fedorov as defense minister, a move that some interpreted as an attempt to appease Syrskyi. Zelensky cited an unresolvable rift between Fedorov and Syrskyi as the reason for the shakeup, stating that he "would have to resolve it" as the two could not settle their dispute themselves. Following his dismissal, Fedorov publicly accused Syrskyi of hindering military reforms and perpetuating a top-down command culture, echoing complaints from soldiers and veterans.
Thousands of protesters subsequently took to the streets in Kyiv and other cities, viewing Fedorov's dismissal as Zelensky aligning with an established military establishment over a reformer. The deputy commander of Ukraine's air force resigned in protest, warning that the changes could weaken the country's air defenses, while veterans and soldiers joined the large demonstrations in solidarity.