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Zelensky reshuffles command
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine’s new army chief as Ukraine continued its fight against Russia’s invasion under new military leadership Wednesday.
“Kyiv’s regime is trembling from within. It can be seen with the naked eye”
WRAL reported that Zelenskyy said Drapatyi and other commanders must present an updated defense strategy, including continued reform of the corps system, faster weapon and drone deliveries, stronger air defense against Russian strikes and a clearer mobilization plan.
The same report said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “Kyiv’s regime is trembling from within. It can be seen with the naked eye,” and also claimed the changes would not alter the front line.
WRAL also said Syrskyi defended his wartime record in a statement Wednesday, claiming Ukrainian forces had clawed back 743 square kilometers (287 square miles) of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory this year.
Al Jazeera added that Drapatyi, named commander of Ukraine’s armed forces on Wednesday, announced plans to expand offensive operations against Russia, saying the military would “continue and intensify offensive operations in all domains”.
Protests and competing narratives
The leadership shakeup came after Zelenskyy’s major government reshuffle last week, which WRAL said prompted a political turmoil that lasted almost a week and threatened to derail Ukraine’s efforts.
WRAL reported that street protests in Kyiv and other cities demanded Mykhailo Fedorov’s return and urged Zelenskyy to fire Syrskyi, with Dmytro Koziatynskyi writing on Threads that protesters’ second demand was “to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister.”
In a late-night television address, AGI said Zelenskyy announced Drapatyi’s nomination and that he would reintegrate Fedorov in the government after the removal of the defense minister had led to thousands of people manifesting in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
CNBC described the unrest as almost a week of nationwide unrest and said demonstrators pushed for Zelenskyy to reinstate Fedorov and dismiss Syrskyi, while also quoting Zelenskyy’s statement that “The operations of Ukraine's Defense Forces are ongoing and must continue without disruption.”
France 24 reported that in Izium, a 22-year-old soldier nicknamed Khrest told AFP that Syrsky’s departure was a “good thing” but that he still wanted Fedorov to return to government.
Front-line pressure and diplomacy
WRAL said there was “no sign that the two countries are any closer to a peace settlement,” despite U.S.-led diplomatic efforts, and it quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Moscow was sticking to previous demands.
“no sign that the two countries are any closer to a peace settlement”
Those demands, as WRAL reported, include Kyiv withdrawing its forces from the four eastern regions that Russia has seized but doesn’t fully control, renouncing any aspirations to NATO membership and sharply cutting the size of its army.
Al Jazeera reported that Drapatyi’s appointment came as Ukraine sought to pressure Russian forces and as both sides intensified air strikes against the other’s vital infrastructure, with Ukrainian strikes hitting warehouses in southern Russia belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries for the second time this week.
Al Jazeera also said Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian attacks hit an oil depot, a tanker and four cargo ships from Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
WRAL added that Zelenskyy discussed licenses for Patriot air defense system production with visiting U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, describing obtaining more Patriot interceptors as a “critical priority,” while Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would meet with U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio on Thursday in Manila.