Ukrainians welcome new army chief but seek return of fired defence minister

Ukrainian soldiers and civilians told AFP on Wednesday they welcomed the appointment of Mykhailo Drapaty as the new army commander in the fifth year of Russia's invasion, while still hoping for the return of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

The surprise replacement of reformist minister Fedorov last week brought several thousand people onto the streets demanding his reinstatement and the removal of army chief Oleksandr Syrsky. Faced with the largest war-related protests since Russia's 2022 invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked Syrsky on Tuesday and replaced him with Drapaty.

In Izium, a city 30 kilometres (20 miles) from Russian positions, a 22-year-old soldier who gave his military nickname as Khrest said Syrsky's departure was a "good thing" but still wanted Fedorov to return to government. According to Khrest, Fedorov was lobbying for the widespread introduction of fixed-term contracts – a key demand by soldiers, many of whom are fighting without a set term, even though the war is in its fifth year.

Another soldier in Izium, nicknamed "Ananas", also told AFP he was pleased to see the back of Syrsky, who was known for military success but also developed a reputation for not caring about losses. The 30-year-old said Syrsky, a career officer who led the crucial defence of Kyiv in 2022, "threw a lot of people into the meat grinder at the start of the war". The soldier also alleged Syrsky had been linked to a scandal over reports of violence against new recruits in the Skelia assault unit.

Svitlana, 48, a nurse in an airborne assault unit, also saw the arrival of Drapaty – a respected "combat officer" – as "positive". She was grateful to civilians for protesting to oust Syrsky. She also valued the "digitalisation" led by ex-minister Fedorov but warned not to "idealise" the young official, noting that pay had decreased during his tenure.

Many said discontent would continue unless Fedorov returned. He is praised for enhancing drone technology and trying to ensure "fewer soldiers die and that drones fight in their place". In Kyiv, 69-year-old Oleg said the removal of Syrsky was not enough, and that change could only come with a replacement "at the top" of government.