Zelenskyy dismisses military chief Syrskii in latest defence reshuffle

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed military chief Oleksandr Syrskii and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as his replacement. The decision follows six days of protests in Kyiv triggered by the recent removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had previously clashed with Syrskii over reform efforts. Zelenskyy stated the move aims to reset defence operations and resolve friction within military leadership regarding mobilisation and front-line management.

Syrskii, aged 60, was born in Soviet Russia in July 1965 and studied at a Red Army academy in Moscow before remaining in Ukraine after its independence. He was named a “Hero of Ukraine” for his defence of Kyiv in the early months of the war and is credited with planning the successful counteroffensive around Kharkiv in 2022. Fedorov, previously seen as pivotal to the war effort, was removed from his post last week after accusing Syrskii of blocking his reform efforts.

Zelenskyy emphasised the need to address persistent issues concerning mobilisation and front-line management. In a statement on social media, the president said he was grateful to Syrskii and Drapatyi for their shared view on achieving victory and creating conditions that would force Russia toward peace. He noted that the appointment of Drapatyi was made to “reset” the ongoing defence against Russian troops.

Over the four-year war, which began in February 2022, more than 10 Ukrainian generals have been fired from their positions. Russia has also experienced significant military reshuffling over the same period. The conflict involves ongoing friction between political leadership and military command regarding strategy and resource allocation.

The specific reasons for the protests beyond the removal of Fedorov are not detailed, though they are linked to the broader reshuffle. The long-term impact of the leadership change on front-line performance is not yet known. Claims regarding Syrskii’s role in the Kharkiv counteroffensive and defence of Kyiv are attributed to his official recognition as “Hero of Ukraine” and should be presented as part of his official record rather than independent verification.