Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine's military chief amid protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the dismissal of military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, offering the post to former army commander Mykhailo Drapatyj. The move comes after days of protests in Ukraine, which began following the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov last week. Protesters had demanded Syrskyi's dismissal.

Zelenskyy acknowledged Syrskyi's contributions, stating it is a "fact" that he served Ukraine well before becoming military chief, notably leading the defense of Kyiv at the war's outset and the successful Kharkiv offensive in autumn 2022. The president expressed gratitude for his service.

An orderly transition to the future military chief has been agreed upon with Syrskyi and his close associate, General Staff chief Andriy Hnatov. The timeline for Drapatyj's assumption of the role was not specified in Zelenskyy's statement. Drapatyj, who previously commanded the army and currently holds a significant position in the Ukrainian military leadership, was among the influential commanders Zelenskyy met with in recent days.

These meetings fueled rumors of Syrskyi's impending replacement, possibly by Drapatyj. Similar to the dismissed Defense Minister Fedorov, Drapatyj enjoys support within Ukrainian civil society, while Syrskyi has faced recurring criticism. Syrskyi has held the position of military chief since the beginning of 2024, marking the second time Zelenskyy has changed the military leadership since the war began. His predecessor was Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, who is now Ukraine's ambassador to London.

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It is a fact that General Syrskyi had already served Ukraine well before taking up his post as military chief – for example, as the person responsible for the defense of Kyiv at the beginning of the war and for the successful Kharkiv offensive in autumn 2022. I am grateful to him for that.