Zelensky dismisses Ukraine's military chief

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has been dismissed, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday. The move comes after days of widespread protests across the country.

Mychajlo Drapatyi will take over as the military's highest-ranking official, according to a statement from Zelenskyy on Telegram. The president thanked Syrskyi for his contributions and praised his role in the ongoing war against Russia. "We all share the same desire – to defeat the enemy and create conditions at the front and pressure on Russia that will enable us to force Russia into peace," Zelenskyy wrote.

The protests have seen thousands of Ukrainians demonstrating daily in Kyiv for nearly a week. Public discontent reportedly erupted after President Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on July 15. Fedorov, who had served for only six months, was considered a key figure behind the country's military successes.

Protesters have demanded Fedorov's reinstatement as defense minister and Syrskyi's removal as commander-in-chief. According to Kyiv Independent, Syrskyi has advocated for a centralized command structure and faced criticism from soldiers for his micromanagement. Meanwhile, Fedorov had reportedly problematized Syrskyi's leadership style, describing it as outdated and Soviet-like.

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We all share the same desire – to defeat the enemy and create conditions at the front and pressure on Russia that will enable us to force Russia into peace.