Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially dismissed four-star General Oleksandr Syrskyi from his position as commander-in-chief, appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his successor. This leadership transition occurs well into the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The decision followed several days of widespread public protests across the country, which were initially sparked by the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov’s removal had been attributed to an increasingly intense professional clash between him and General Syrskyi.
Zelenskyy stated that the decision to reorganize the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was reached after extensive consultations with military leadership over the past few days. While announcing the change, the President acknowledged General Syrskyi’s past contributions, specifically noting that he ensured success during the defense of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive, and the Kursk operation. However, Zelenskyy also addressed the widespread criticism regarding Syrskyi’s military management style and the perceived lack of support within the armed forces, stating that every soldier deserves to be treated with respect.
Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, who has built a strong reputation among civil society activists and military personnel, has been a vocal proponent of the reforms previously championed by Fedorov. Drapatyi has publicly supported the need for faster decision-making and a systematic overhaul of the military. In a Facebook post shared last Thursday, the day after Fedorov’s dismissal, Drapatyi argued that the military requires change, but emphasized that without justice, such changes would hold little meaning for those serving on the front lines. He further noted that a commander has no right to remain silent about problems when the cost is measured in lost opportunities, time, and human lives, adding that silence only allows mistakes to accumulate until they become difficult to correct.
Drapatyi’s military career includes leading the Joint Forces, the command responsible for the front line in and around the northeastern Kharkiv region. Since taking charge of that area in the autumn of last year, Ukrainian units, including the Khartiia Brigade, have successfully recaptured significant territory around Kupiansk, which had previously been under threat from Russian forces. Prior to that role, he led the Dnipro operational-strategic group, an eastern command that was dissolved by Syrskyi in October 2025. His combat experience dates back to the 2014 escalation of the war, when he served as a major and battalion commander in the 72nd Mechanised Brigade during the battle for Mariupol. He gained lasting fame during that period when an armoured vehicle from his unit broke through a barricade erected by Russian forces on a main street in the city.
The dismissal of Fedorov, a tech-savvy minister who was widely supported by civil society and within the military for his efforts to improve procurement and soldier conditions, had triggered significant public anger. Critics accused Zelenskyy of siding with entrenched military hierarchies over a figure associated with transparency. Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a military veteran and protest organizer, had issued a list of demands to the president on Monday, which included the dismissal of Syrskyi and the reinstatement of Fedorov. Koziatynskyi warned that if these demands were not met by Friday, 24 July, they would initiate a general, indefinite protest. President Zelenskyy did not provide any further comment regarding the potential return of Fedorov to the defence ministry following his announcement regarding the change in command.
