Zelenskyy replaces military leader and brings back defence minister he sacked
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed General Mykhailo Drapati as the new head of the armed forces. He also reinstated Mykhailo Fedorov to a high government post, ending protests that erupted after Fedorov's dismissal.
In a late-night TV address, Zelenskyy announced the dismissal of General Oleksandr Syrskyi and the appointment of Major General Mykhailo Drapati as the new commander-in-chief. Zelenskyy said Drapati, a popular and innovative general, would oversee a reorganisation of the army's command structure.
Zelenskyy praised Syrskyi for leading the defence of Kyiv and the counter-invasion of Russia's Kursk region in summer 2024, noting that foreign tanks entered Russian territory for the first time since World War II. "We have come a long way. The defence of Ukraine continues. And every soldier deserves to be treated with respect," Zelenskyy said.
The reshuffle follows massive protests after Zelenskyy sacked Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov last week. Thousands demonstrated in Kyiv and other cities. Protesters demanded Fedorov's reinstatement by Friday, threatening indefinite protests. Fedorov welcomed Drapati's appointment, calling it "a breath of fresh air and new hope for the struggle of free people."
Drapati, who has fought Russia since its 2014 incursion into Donbas, is widely regarded as one of Ukraine's most capable battlefield commanders. He gained fame by driving an infantry fighting vehicle over a barricade set up by pro-Russian militants in Mariupol.
Zelenskyy said he and Drapati agreed to continue long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. The new commander will also update Ukraine's defence strategy and tackle mobilisation. Fedorov's new role is unspecified but described as a "prominent position" to unify the technology sector. The current defence minister is Yevhen Khmara, a former special operations commander.
