Zelensky sacks army commander Syrskyi after Ukraine protests

President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Ukraine’s army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, appointing the battle-hardened general Mykhailo Drapatyi in his place. The move comes just days after the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov triggered six days of widespread street protests across the country.

The leadership upheaval exposes a deep rift between Ukraine's traditional military establishment and a younger, tech-driven approach to warfare. Fedorov, 35, was widely praised for bringing modern management to the defence ministry and leading an anti-corruption drive. A former minister of digital transformation, he launched the "IT Army of Ukraine" for cyber-attacks, spearheaded the Army of Drones fundraising campaign, and introduced gamification to reward units for destroying Russian assets. Syrskyi, 60, was widely viewed as a Soviet-school commander reluctant to embrace such rapid changes.

Drapatyi, 43, represents a shift in trajectory. He is seen as a younger, innovative commander who maintains strong frontline credentials. Crucially, he is a close friend of Fedorov. The former minister publicly endorsed his appointment, describing it as a "new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice" and "the voice of change that could not be ignored."

For European partners and defence contractors monitoring Kyiv's stability, the staffing changes signal a potential reset in how Ukraine manages its military procurement and strategy. Zelensky has ordered Drapatyi and acting Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara—a former top Security Service official who replaced Fedorov last week—to draft a new defence strategy. This review will explicitly cover reforming the military corps system, weapons supply chains, and drone warfare.

Zelensky is now attempting to manage the political fallout. In a late Tuesday video, he thanked Syrskyi for his role in defending Kyiv in 2022 and revealed he offered Fedorov a "worthy position in power." It remains unclear if Fedorov has accepted. Protesters will likely remain restless until they see the ousted minister in a role where he can continue driving military innovation.

Syrskyi has not commented on his dismissal. In an op-ed published on Monday, he defended his tenure, stating that "decisions on which people's lives depend are not made with slogans." He added: "Real work, not the public drama surrounding it, wins the war."