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Zelensky reshuffles command
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as his replacement after days of protests tied to the earlier dismissal of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
In Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, demonstrators chanted “Drapati! Drapati! Drapati!” as Zelensky responded to street demands by announcing Sirski’s dismissal and Drapati’s appointment.
AFP reported that Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in Izium welcomed Drapatyi’s appointment in the fifth year of Russia’s invasion, while still hoping for the return of Fedorov.
France 24 said the surprise replacement followed the removal of Fedorov last week and that Zelensky sacked Syrsky on Tuesday, replacing him with Drapaty.
The reshuffle also came as protesters demanded the removal of Syrskyi and the reinstatement of Fedorov, with the crisis framed as the biggest domestic challenge Zelensky has faced since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Soldiers split on Syrskyi
In Izium, a 22-year-old soldier using the nickname Khrest told AFP that Syrsky’s departure was a “good thing” but he still wanted Fedorov to return to government.
Khrest said Fedorov was lobbying for “the widespread introduction of fixed-term contracts,” adding that mobilised soldiers were fighting without a set term even though the war is in its fifth year.
Another Izium soldier, nicknamed “Ananas,” told AFP he was pleased to see Syrsky removed despite Syrsky’s reputation for success, saying Syrsky “threw a lot of people into the meat grinder at the start of the war”.
Ananas also alleged Syrsky had been linked to a scandal over reports of violence against new recruits in the Skelia assault unit, while Syrsky called the violations “shameful” and said measures had been taken against those responsible.
In Kyiv, a 69-year-old Oleg told AFP that the removal of Syrsky was not enough, saying “People got together to support Fedorov... the aim has not yet been achieved.”
Reform hopes and risks
The political crisis centered on whether Zelensky could satisfy demands for military reform while avoiding further divisions, with AFP describing crowds pushing for Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrsky’s removal.
France 24 reported that Zelensky indicated that “il a été déterminé comment la structure de l’état-major général des forces armées d’Ukraine devait être réorganisée,” framing the reshuffle as a reorganization of the General Staff.
The European Conservative said Drapatyi, described as a 43-year-old frontline commander, pledged to lead the armed forces “responsibly” while thanking Syrskyi for his service, and it said Zelensky offered Fedorov another senior government position.
International Business Times UK said Syrskiy is at the centre of the biggest domestic crisis Zelensky has faced since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, with protesters demanding his removal after a defence minister he clashed with was sacked.
Kyiv Post reported that Anastasiia Starodubtseva, 25, said she and other protesters would stay “until something changes,” while Zelensky was portrayed as holding meetings with top advisors and military hierarchy and weighing whether to bring back Fedorov and the fate of Syrsky.
