Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine's army chief Syrskyi, appoints Drapatyi

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Oleksandr Syrskyi from his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, appointing Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi to the role. The announcement was made via Telegram on July 21.

"I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapatyi. I thank Oleksandr Syrskyi and every soldier of our army for Ukraine's strong positions on the front line," Zelenskyy stated.

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I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapatyi. I thank Oleksandr Syrskyi and every soldier of our army for Ukraine's strong positions on the front line.

Public discontent with Syrskyi intensified after Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov last week. Protests that began on July 15 quickly evolved from supporting Fedorov to demanding Syrskyi's removal. The Kyiv Independent reported that many protesters, including soldiers and veterans, called for Zelenskyy to replace Syrskyi with Drapatyi, with chants of "Drapatyi!" heard in the crowds.

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I was surprised to learn that there was supposedly a conflict between me and the minister. I perceive our relationship as a professional working relationship – with complex issues and different opinions. That's how it should be between two institutions during a large-scale war.

Fedorov had previously confirmed that Zelenskyy faced a choice between him and the army leader, though he denied issuing an ultimatum. Syrskyi, in turn, publicly denied reports of a conflict with Fedorov, describing their relationship as professional, albeit with differing opinions, which he deemed normal during a large-scale war.

The dispute between the defense minister and the commander-in-chief was reportedly a generational conflict. Syrskyi favored a centralized command style rooted in Soviet military doctrine. In contrast, Drapatyi advocated for greater initiative among lower-level commanders, faster decision-making, and increased responsibility within the armed forces. Following Fedorov's dismissal, Drapatyi publicly supported his reforms, emphasizing the need for change in the army and stating that commanders should not remain silent about problems when lives are at stake. During Russia's full-scale invasion, Drapatyi played a key role in organizing the defense of Kryvyi Rih, commanded forces in the liberation of Kherson, and led operations during Russia's 2024 offensive in the Kharkiv region.

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The army needs change.