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Syrskyi replaced by Drapatyi
President Volodymyr Zelensky fired General Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander in chief of Ukraine’s armed forces and appointed General of division Mykhailo Drapatyi in his place, in a reshuffle that came in the fifth year of Russia’s total war against Ukraine.
Euronews said the decision followed days of mass protests across the country after Zelensky removed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, which Zelensky linked to an increasingly tense clash with Syrskyi.
Euronews quoted Zelensky praising Syrskyi’s role, saying «È un dato di fatto che Oleksandr Syrskyi ha garantito il successo dell'Ucraina nella difesa di Kiev, nell'offensiva su Kharkiv e nell'operazione a Kursk».
In the same Euronews account, Zelensky said that after consultations with the military command in the last days, it was «definito come dovrà essere riorganizzata la struttura dello Stato maggiore delle Forze armate ucraine».
CBC reported that Zelensky made the decision after meetings with military commanders, appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new army chief following days of mass protests in Kyiv and other cities demanding Syrskyi’s removal.
Protests, deadlines, and offers
The Guardian said Zelensky fired Syrskyi and offered a “prominent position” to the defence minister he sacked last week, a move that sparked nationwide protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
The Guardian quoted Zelensky paying tribute to Syrskyi and tying the reshuffle to the war’s direction, saying “We have come a long way. The defence of Ukraine continues. And every soldier deserves to be treated with respect,” Zelensky said.
In a separate account, la Repubblica described protests in Kyiv’s square with cardboard signs demanding “Syrskyi, go away,” and said organizer Dmytro Koziatynskyi warned: “We will press on relentlessly if by Friday he has not been removed, and if Fedorov has not been named Defense Minister,”.
la Repubblica also said Zelensky put Mykhailo Fedorov back in play after meeting him again behind closed doors in the presidency office, and it reported that Zelensky had ousted Fedorov a week earlier after only six months at the helm of the Defense Ministry.
The Guardian added that Drapatyi would oversee a reorganisation of the army’s command structure, and it quoted Fedorov welcoming the appointment as “new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice.”
What changes next
Multiple outlets framed the leadership shake-up as a pivot toward continued pressure on Russia and a reshaped command structure, with Zelensky emphasizing that “Our shared wish is one — victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace,” in a statement carried by CBC.
CBC said Zelensky told commanders they must present an updated defence strategy, including continued reform of the corps system, faster weapons and drone deliveries, stronger air defence against Russian strikes and a clearer mobilization plan.
Euronews described Drapatyi’s background, saying he previously led the Joint Forces covering the front line in the north-eastern region of Kharkiv and surrounding areas, and it said that since he assumed command in the autumn of last year, Ukrainian units including the brigata Khartiia had reconquered territory around Kupiansk.
Euronews also said Drapatyi had been involved earlier in the battle for Mariupol in 2014, when a vehicle from his unit became famous for breaking through a barricade in one of the main streets of Mariupol.
In a Russia-focused reaction, Vietnam.vn reported that after Zelensky’s decision, the Russian Interior Ministry updated its database and added Mykhailo Dragatyi to its list of wanted persons, and it said the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case accusing him of commanding the Joint Forces Operation from 2017 to 2019.
