Zelenskyy Replaces Army Chief Syrskyi With Drapati as Protests Push Fedorov Return
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21
Zelenskyy Replaces Army Chief Syrskyi With Drapati as Protests Push Fedorov Return
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21
Summary
Late Tuesday, Zelenskyy named Mykhailo Drapati commander-in-chief, ousting Oleksandr Syrskyi and ordering a reorganisation of Ukraine’s military command.
Thousands of protesters in Kyiv and other cities had demanded Syrskyi’s removal and Mykhailo Fedorov’s reinstatement after Zelenskyy sacked the defence minister last week.
Zelenskyy said he offered Fedorov a prominent government post focused on unifying Ukraine’s technology sector, though the former defence portfolio has already gone to Yevhen Khmara.
Drapati, a popular major general and Fedorov ally, is expected to drive structural reform, update defence strategy and keep long-range drone strikes on Russian targets such as oil refineries.
The reshuffle opens one of Ukraine’s biggest political crises since Russia’s 2022 invasion onto broader wartime strains, including mobilisation problems nearly five years into full-scale war.
A tech visionary was fired, then his rival general. Can new leadership end Ukraine's war of drones versus doctrine?
With 600,000 casualties and a command in turmoil, can one new general change the brutal calculus of the Ukraine war?
Zelenskyy Ousts Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi as Public Demands Military Reform and Modernization
Overview
President Zelenskyy's decision to replace Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi followed significant public outcry and days of street protests across Ukraine. This unrest was triggered by the earlier dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, which sparked widespread dissatisfaction and demonstrations supporting Fedorov while criticizing Syrskyi. Fedorov’s ousting turned him into a symbol for broader military reform, highlighting a clash between traditional command styles and demands for innovation. The leadership shake-up reflects mounting pressure from the public for change, as Ukrainians call for a more modern, accountable, and effective military during a critical phase of the ongoing conflict.