Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed Army Chief Oleksandr Syrsky from office following days of political tension sparked by the dismissal of a popular defence minister and calls for military reforms.
Zelensky announced the appointment of Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty as Syrsky’s replacement in a statement posted on Telegram on Tuesday.
“I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty,” Zelensky said.
“I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong frontline positions.”
Syrsky, 60, had served as Ukraine’s top military commander since 2024 and was among the country’s most experienced battlefield leaders.
He previously led the defence of Kyiv during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
His removal followed a political dispute that emerged after Zelensky dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose reform agenda reportedly brought him into conflict with military leadership.
Fedorov accused Syrsky of blocking proposed changes and influencing his removal, allegations the army chief denied.
The dispute exposed rare divisions within Ukraine’s political and military leadership as Kyiv continues its war against Russia.
Ukraine has recently slowed Russian advances and carried out long-range strikes against Russian oil facilities, which it says support Moscow’s war effort.
Drapaty, a decorated major general who previously commanded Ukraine’s ground forces, thanked Zelensky for the appointment.
“Serving Ukraine has always been an honour for me, and during the war for independence it means absolute responsibility,” he said.
The 43-year-old officer gained recognition for his role in fighting Moscow-backed separatists during the Donbas conflict and becomes Ukraine’s third commander-in-chief since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022.
Fedorov welcomed the appointment, describing it as a sign of renewed optimism for Ukraine’s military campaign.
“This is a breath of fresh air and a new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice,” he said.
Fedorov’s removal last week triggered protests across Ukraine, with demonstrators expressing concerns over stalled military reforms and calling for Syrsky’s dismissal.
Analysts had previously said Syrsky was unlikely to pose a political challenge to Zelensky, unlike his predecessor Valeriy Zaluzhny, who was removed from the position in 2024.
However, critics accused Syrsky of failing to address concerns over troop losses and delaying reforms relating to procurement, equipment and mobilisation.
The leadership change comes as both Russia and Ukraine continue intensifying aerial attacks, with the United Nations reporting a rise in civilian casualties in recent months.
