Ukraine's Zelenskyy sacks army chief Syrsky
Oleksandr Syrsky had led Ukraine’s armed forces since 2024 and played a key role in the defence against Russia’s invasion.
Colonel general Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, attends an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine Jan 12, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday (Jul 21) that he was dismissing Oleksandr Syrsky, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's army, amid an ongoing political crisis triggered by the removal of a popular defence minister.
The Ukrainian leader announced he was appointing joint forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty in his place.
Syrsky, 60, had served in the role since 2024 and was among Kyiv's most experienced commanders, having led the defence of Kyiv at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
His removal comes after days of protests in support of ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who accused Syrsky of forcing him out and stalling his attempt to reform the military.
"I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty," Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.
"I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine's strong front-line positions."
Questions over Syrsky's future came to the fore last week, when Zelenskyy removed highly-popular defence minister Fedorov just six months after appointing him.
Fedorov, a tech-savvy 35-year-old whose efforts to modernise the army brought him into conflict with its leadership, accused Syrsky of blocking his ideas and pressuring Zelenskyy to remove him - a charge Syrsky denied.
Ukrainian media had long reported ructions between the two.
