Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has replaced army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi with General Mykhailo Drapatyi following widespread protests over recent leadership changes.
Key facts
- •Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, was dismissed as Ukraine's army commander-in-chief.
- •General Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, has been appointed as the new army commander.
- •The leadership change follows six days of protests triggered by the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
- •Yevhenii Khmara remains the acting Defence Minister while a new strategy is developed.
- •Syrskyi previously defended his record, stating that military decisions are more complex than public slogans suggest.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed army commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, replacing him with battle-hardened general Mykhailo Drapatyi. The decision follows six days of nationwide protests sparked by the recent removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelensky confirmed the leadership shift in a social media video, noting that he had also offered Fedorov a new position within the government.
By the numbers
Leadership Transition and Public Pressure
The dismissal of 60-year-old Syrskyi, often characterized as a Soviet-school commander, comes after intense public pressure. His successor, 43-year-old Mykhailo Drapatyi, is viewed as a younger and more innovative leader. Drapatyi, who is considered a close friend of the ousted Defence Minister Fedorov, stated he would focus on his new responsibilities with respect for those defending the country.
The Role of Mykhailo Fedorov
Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, was removed from his post as defence minister last week and replaced by former SBU official Yevhenii Khmara. Fedorov, who previously served as minister of digital transformation, earned widespread praise for his efforts to modernize the armed forces, including the creation of the 'IT Army of Ukraine' and the 'Army of Drones' fundraising campaign. Despite his removal, Fedorov publicly endorsed Drapatyi's appointment as a 'new hope' for the country.
Future Defense Strategy
President Zelensky has tasked acting Defence Minister Khmara and the new commander-in-chief, Drapatyi, with developing a new national defence strategy. This initiative is expected to address critical areas such as military corps reform, weapons supply, and drone operations. Formalization of these leadership decisions is expected to follow.
Timeline
- JanuaryMykhailo Fedorov was appointed as Ukraine's defence minister.
- Last weekFedorov was replaced as defence minister by Yevhenii Khmara.
- MondaySyrskyi published an op-ed regarding his relationship with Fedorov.
- TuesdayZelensky announced the dismissal of Syrskyi and his replacement by Drapatyi.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC World.
