Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and offered a "prominent position" to the defence minister he sacked last week, a move that sparked nationwide protests. In a late-night TV address, the president announced that Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi would replace Syrskyi as head of the armed forces.
Zelenskyy said Drapatyi would oversee a reorganisation of the army's command structure. He paid tribute to Syrskyi, crediting him with leading the defence of Kyiv and launching the counter-invasion of Russia's Kursk province in summer 2024, when foreign tanks rolled onto Russian territory for the first time since the second world war.
The reshuffle follows demonstrations in Kyiv and other cities after Mykhailo Fedorov was removed as defence minister. Protesters demanded Syrskyi's dismissal and gave a Friday deadline for Fedorov's reinstatement. Fedorov welcomed Drapatyi's appointment, saying it brought "a breath of fresh air and new hope" and called for clear vision and decisive action.
Drapatyi, commander of Ukraine's joint forces group, has fought Russian forces since 2014 and became nationally known for driving an infantry fighting vehicle over a barricade in Mariupol. Ukrainian media outlet Babel described him as one of Ukraine's most capable battlefield commanders, though his new role will focus on reforming the military institution rather than commanding troops in combat.
Zelenskyy said long-range drone attacks on Russian targets such as oil refineries would continue, promising "absolute precision" in the strikes. The new commander-in-chief will also update defence strategy and address mobilisation, a pressing issue after nearly five years of full-scale war.
It remains unclear what position Fedorov will take, with reports he had wanted his old job back. The defence ministry is now led by Yevhen Khmara, a former special operations commander. Zelenskyy said he offered Fedorov a role to unify Ukraine's technological sector, adding that their shared wish is "victory over the enemy" and conditions that would force Russia toward peace.
