Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky and appointed Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty as Ukraine’s new military chief, following a political crisis sparked by the removal of former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The leadership shake-up comes after days of protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators demanding military reforms and calling for Syrsky’s removal following Fedorov’s dismissal.
Announcing the decision on Telegram, Zelensky confirmed Drapaty’s appointment and thanked Syrsky for his service.
“I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty,” Zelensky said.
“I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong frontline positions.”
Syrsky, 60, had led Ukraine’s armed forces since 2024 and was widely recognised for commanding the defence of Kyiv during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
His departure follows growing tensions within Ukraine’s military leadership after Fedorov, 35, was removed just six months into his tenure as defence minister. The former minister, known for pushing technology-driven military reforms, accused Syrsky of blocking his modernisation plans and pressuring Zelensky to remove him—an allegation Syrsky denied.
The dispute exposed rare divisions within Ukraine’s political and military establishment at a critical stage of the war, despite recent battlefield gains. Ukrainian forces have slowed Russia’s advances in recent months while intensifying long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities that Kyiv says support Moscow’s war effort.
Drapaty, 43, is a decorated major general who previously commanded Ukraine’s ground forces and fought against Russian-backed separatists during the Donbas conflict. He is widely known in Ukraine for a video that appeared to show him driving an armoured vehicle through a separatist checkpoint in Mariupol during the early fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Reacting to his appointment, Drapaty pledged to fulfil the responsibilities of his new role.
“Serving Ukraine has always been an honour for me, and during the war for independence it means absolute responsibility,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Glory to the nation. Death to the enemies.”
Fedorov welcomed the appointment, describing it as a positive step for Ukraine’s armed forces.
“This is a breath of fresh air and a new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice,” he said on social media.
Thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets following Fedorov’s dismissal, expressing frustration over the pace of military reforms and urging the government to replace Syrsky.
Military analysts have suggested Syrsky posed little political threat to Zelensky, unlike his predecessor Valery Zaluzhny, who was removed despite widespread public support. However, Syrsky had faced criticism over battlefield casualties and the pace of reforms involving procurement, mobilisation and military equipment.
Drapaty becomes Ukraine’s third commander-in-chief since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
The leadership change comes as both Ukraine and Russia continue to intensify aerial attacks, with the United Nations recently reporting a rise in civilian casualties across Ukraine.
