Facing pressure from civil society and widespread demonstrations throughout Ukraine, President Zelenskyy replaced General Syrskyi with Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief on Tuesday.
In the midst of Russia’s fifth year of full-scale war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has removed four-star General Oleksandr Syrskyi from the position of commander-in-chief, appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his successor.
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Following several days of mass protests nationwide triggered by the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, attributed to escalating tensions with General Syrskyi, Zelenskyy declared the change.
He stated that after extensive discussions with the military leadership over recent days, the reorganization of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s structure had been “defined.”
Zelenskyy also acknowledged General Syrskyi’s role in Ukraine’s defence.
“Oleksandr Syrskyi’s leadership was crucial for Ukraine’s victories in defending Kyiv, the Kharkiv counteroffensive, and the operation in Kursk,” Zelenskyy remarked.
“The defence efforts continue, and it is imperative that every soldier is treated with respect,” he added, addressing widespread critiques of Syrskyi’s command style and perceived lack of backing within the military ranks.
“Our shared goal remains defeating the adversary and creating conditions at the front that apply sufficient pressure on Russia to compel peace.”
General Drapatyi has previously commended Fedorov’s six-month period at the helm of the defence ministry, recognizing efforts to reform entrenched military regulations and address issues the system had long overlooked.
Echoing Fedorov’s calls for accelerating decision-making and shifting strategies, Drapatyi advocates a thorough transformation of the armed forces.
“The military requires change, yet without justice, such change will lack meaning for those bearing the burden of this war daily,” the general stated on Facebook last Thursday, announcing his support for Fedorov the day after the latter’s dismissal.
“A commander cannot ignore problems, especially when their consequences are measured in lost chances, time, and lives,” Drapatyi emphasized.
“Remaining silent does not shield the army; it only lets errors accumulate, making them far more challenging to resolve.”
Who is Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief?
Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi has earned a reputation as a respected figure among civil activists and many military personnel.
He commanded the Joint Forces, a recently established unit responsible for the frontline in and around the northeastern Kharkiv region.
Since taking command in autumn last year, Ukrainian forces, including the Khartiia Brigade, regained substantial areas near Kupiansk that were previously targeted by Russian troops.
Before this role, Drapatyi led the Dnipro operational-strategic group (OSUV), a broader eastern command disbanded by Syrskyi in October 2025.
When Russia intensified its 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine, Drapatyi, then a major and battalion commander within the 72nd Mechanised Brigade, participated in the struggle for Mariupol, briefly held by Moscow’s forces.
An armoured vehicle from his battalion later became iconic after breaching a barricade set up by Russian troops on one of Mariupol’s main avenues.
What about Fedorov?
The recent dismissal of Defence Minister Fedorov escalated Zelenskyy’s wartime reshuffle into a politically charged crisis.
The removal of the reform-driven, technologically skilled minister—widely backed by civil society and segments of the military—prompted an immediate backlash, with critics accusing Zelenskyy of favoring Syrskyi and the established military elite over a figure associated with transparency, improved procurement, and enhanced soldier welfare.
On Monday, military veteran and protest leader Dmytro Koziatynskyi outlined a list of demands addressed to the president.
These demands included the dismissal of Syrskyi as commander-in-chief and the restoration of Fedorov as defence minister.
“If by Friday, 24 July, Syrskyi has not been relieved and Fedorov’s nomination as defence minister has not been submitted, we will launch a general, indefinite protest,” he warned.
Following the announcement of Syrskyi’s removal, Zelenskyy refrained from commenting on the prospect of Fedorov’s return to the defence ministry.