Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday dismissed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky, appointing Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty as his replacement following a political crisis that exposed divisions within the country’s military leadership.
Syrsky, 60, had served as Ukraine’s top military commander since 2024 and was among the country’s most experienced officers, having led the successful defence of Kyiv during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
His dismissal came days after the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose departure sparked protests and intensified tensions within Ukraine’s military establishment.
Announcing the appointment on Telegram, Zelensky said: “I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty.”
“I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong frontline positions,” he added.
Questions over Syrsky’s future emerged after Zelensky removed Fedorov just six months after appointing him as defence minister.
Fedorov, 35, who had championed efforts to modernise Ukraine’s military, accused Syrsky of obstructing key reforms and pressuring the president to dismiss him—an allegation the former army chief denied.
The dispute highlighted rare public disagreements within Ukraine’s military and political leadership at a time when Kyiv has made gains in slowing Russian advances and intensifying long-range strikes on military and energy infrastructure inside Russia.
Drapaty, 43, is a decorated major general who previously commanded Ukraine’s ground forces and fought against Moscow-backed separatists during the conflict in the Donbas region.
He gained national recognition after footage circulated in 2014 appearing to show him driving an armoured vehicle through a separatist checkpoint in Mariupol during fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian militants.
Reacting to his appointment in a Facebook post, Drapaty thanked Zelensky for the confidence placed in him.
“Serving Ukraine has always been an honour for me, and during the war for independence it means absolute responsibility,” he wrote.
“Glory to the nation. Death to the enemies.”
Fedorov also welcomed Drapaty’s appointment, describing it as “a breath of fresh air and a new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice.”
The former defence minister’s dismissal last week prompted thousands of Ukrainians to protest, with many expressing frustration over the pace of military reforms and calling for Syrsky’s removal.
Although analysts have suggested Syrsky never posed a political threat to Zelensky, unlike his predecessor Valery Zaluzhny, he faced criticism over battlefield casualties and the slow pace of reforms to procurement, mobilisation and military logistics.
Drapaty becomes Ukraine’s third commander-in-chief since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The leadership change comes as both Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate long-range aerial attacks, with the United Nations reporting a recent increase in civilian casualties across Ukraine.
AFP
