Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday dismissed the country’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, following a political crisis sparked by the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Zelensky announced the appointment of Joint Forces Commander, Mykhailo Drapaty, as the new head of Ukraine’s armed forces.
The president disclosed the decision in a post on Telegram, expressing appreciation to Syrsky for his service.
“I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty,” Zelensky said.
“I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong frontline positions,” he added.
Syrsky, 60, had occupied the position since 2024 and was widely regarded as one of Ukraine’s most experienced military commanders. He played a key role in defending Kyiv during Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
His dismissal followed days of public protests backing former Defence Minister Fedorov, who alleged that Syrsky orchestrated his removal and frustrated efforts to modernise the military.
Fedorov, 35, accused the former army chief of blocking his reform agenda and pressuring Zelensky to sack him, allegations Syrsky repeatedly denied.
The disagreement exposed rare cracks within Ukraine’s military and political leadership despite recent gains on the battlefield.
Ukraine has slowed Russia’s advances in recent months, while its long-range strikes have targeted Russian oil refineries, which Kyiv says help sustain Moscow’s war effort.