Ukraine Expected to Sack Syrskyi as Zelensky Weighs Replacements After 5 Days of Protests
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 20
Ukraine Expected to Sack Syrskyi as Zelensky Weighs Replacements After 5 Days of Protests
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 20
Summary
Oleksandr Syrskyi is now widely expected to lose his post, with a military source saying his fate is decided as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met possible successors on Monday.
Five days of protests outside the presidential office in Kyiv drove the pressure, after Zelenskyy fired 35-year-old Defence Minister Mykhailo Federov and acknowledged his relationship with Syrskyi had broken down.
Federov accused Syrskyi of blocking reforms with bureaucracy, ignoring data and rewarding loyal brigades, turning the commander into the main target of demonstrators chanting for his removal.
The general staff publicly denied reports of Syrskyi's dismissal, but Zelenskyy's chief of staff signaled the government had heard public demands and said results would follow.
Protest organizers want Federov restored by Friday or they will launch indefinite nationwide demonstrations, adding to pressure on Zelenskyy as Ukraine continues strikes more than 400 km inside Russia.
With soldiers protesting their own commander, is Ukraine's greatest threat now emerging from within?
As drones dominate the battlefield, can Ukraine win by siding with a general from a past era of warfare?
Inside Ukraine’s 2026 Leadership Crisis: The Dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov and Its Impact on Military Reform, Morale, and International Support
Overview
In July 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy triggered a major political crisis in Ukraine by dismissing Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov during a sweeping cabinet reshuffle. Fedorov, known for transforming Ukraine into a global tech leader and advancing innovative drone technology, quickly defended his record on social media, highlighting his fight against military corruption. His removal sparked nationwide debate and public protests, exposing a deep divide between reformist and traditionalist factions within Ukraine’s leadership. This high-profile dismissal not only intensified scrutiny of wartime governance but also raised concerns about military morale, unity, and the country’s international standing.