Zelenskyy ousts army chief after protests over tech minister
Ukraine's president replaced his top military commander and moved to reinstate a sacked technology-focused minister to end the largest domestic political crisis since the 2022 invasion, securing continued drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi to lead Ukraine’s armed forces. Drapatyi is a popular battlefield commander known for embracing modern military technology.
The late-night leadership overhaul aims to defuse the largest domestic political crisis since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Thousands of demonstrators had taken to the streets of Kyiv and other cities, warning of "indefinite protests" unless Mykhailo Fedorov was reinstated and Syrskyi removed by a Friday deadline.
Zelenskyy moved to bring Fedorov back into government just days after his dismissal as defence minister. "I offered Mykhailo a prominent position within the government that would enable him to unify the technological sector of our state and ensure its development," Zelenskyy said. Fedorov's prior attempts to modernise the military had put him at odds with the old-school Syrskyi.
Drapatyi, who has fought Russian forces since 2014, is widely viewed as an ally of Fedorov. The Ukrainian media outlet Babel reported that his new role will be fundamentally about reforming a large institution rather than commanding troops in combat.
Fedorov welcomed the appointment, stating it would bring "a breath of fresh air and new hope." He outlined an agenda aimed at "saving the lives of our soldiers, automating the frontline, delivering asymmetric strikes and crippling the Russian economy."
For European markets closely watching the conflict's economic fallout, the reshuffle secures the continuation of Ukraine's long-range drone programme. Zelenskyy confirmed that attacks on targets inside Russia, including oil refineries, will proceed. "Our programme of precision strikes will be implemented with absolute precision," he said.
Beyond technology, Drapatyi must tackle the acute challenge of mobilisation. With the war in its fifth year, few Ukrainians are willing to volunteer, placing a heavy burden on the domestic labour market and military logistics.
Syrskyi leaves after leading the defence of Kyiv and the 2024 counter-invasion of Russia’s Kursk province, the first time foreign tanks rolled on Russian territory since the Second World War. Yevhen Khmara, a former special operations commander, now permanently fills the defence minister role.
Zelenskyy framed the sweeping changes as a necessary evolution. "Our shared wish is one – victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace," he said.
