New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Tuesday fired his top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, amid growing protests following the dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister last week.
Zelenskyy’s dismissal of Fedorov was seen as a sign of his continued support for General Oleksandr Syrskyi. But Syrskyi’s removal marks a reversal by Zelenskyy, who originally sided with the general over his then defence minister. Reports indicate that Syrskyi and Fedorov had a strained relationship.
Fedorov’s removal proved to be highly unpopular, with protests breaking out around the country. The swelling protests have fuelled fears of fractures in the country’s political unity after nearly five years of war with Russia.
The Ukrainian President announced that Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi will take over as the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The choice is likely to be viewed positively by the protesters as Drapatyi supported Fedorov over Syrskyi during their feud.
“I have decided that Mykhailo Drapatyi will become the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Together with Mykhailo, Yevhenii Khmara, and Pavlo Palisa, we determined how the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be reconfigured,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on the social media platform X.
He added: “It is a fact that Oleksandr Syrskyi delivered results for Ukraine in the defense of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive, and the Kursk operation. We have come a long way, Ukraine’s defense continues, and every warrior must be treated with dignity.”
Generational split
Zelenskyy’s public reversal showcases the generational split within Ukraine.
Fedorov, the young former defence minister, was extremely popular in Ukraine, and his push for higher use of unmanned vehicles, drones and robots was welcomed by large sections of the Ukrainian public. Many remained hopeful that Fedorov’s vision would come to fruition in the war with Russia.
Syrskyi and older officers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were seen as a part of a darker past of Ukraine, which focuses on attritional warfare. Syrskyi was crucial in the defence of Kyiv during the opening stages of the war, and later led the Ukrainian counter-offensive to recapture Kharkiv in September 2022.
The former commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was appointed to the role in February 2024, as Zelenskyy looked to reset the forces. Between 2021 and 2024, the commander-in-chief was the popular General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
During his tenure, Syrskyi rarely won widespread public support, as he was seen as a part of the older batch of Soviet trained officers who valued personal loyalty above tactical merit.
He was nicknamed the “Butcher” during the gruelling battle of Bakhmut in 2023, where he was accused of showing little regard for the value of the lives of his soldiers.
Critics railed against Syrskyi almost moments after Fedorov was dismissed by Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian President had said that he saw no way to end the feud between Fedorov and Syrskyi, leading to the former’s dismissal last week, according to reports.
Fedorov accused the establishment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of resisting change, especially with regard to procurement of arms and ammunition. The former defence minister further accused the military establishment of seeking to support politically connected arms manufacturers.
In the middle of the Fedorov versus Syrskyi feud, Drapatyi broke ranks with the military establishment, highlighting that “silence does not protect the army, it only allows mistakes to accumulate”, according to media reports.
The new commander-in-chief is a 43-year-old officer who was responsible for the defence of Ukraine in the northeastern direction. Drapatyi has served in the Ukrainian army for 26 years, and has since come to be considered one of the most effective battle commanders in the army.
In 2024, Drapatyi helped stabilise the front lines around Kharkiv, before rising to become the youngest-ever commander of the land forces, according to media reports. In June 2025, Drapatyi resigned following the death of 12 soldiers when Russia struck an army training centre.
Drapatyi is seen as a part of the newer generation of Ukrainian commanders.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified in recent months, with Kyiv using its technological advantage to launch drone attacks deep within Russian territory, while Moscow has increased its strikes across the Eastern European nation.
The last few months have been some of the bloodiest since the full-scale war broke out in February 2022. The conflict is heading into its fifth year, with no end in sight.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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