Zelensky sacks Ukraine's top army commander after days of protests

BBC Europe World 07/22/2026, 07:59 Score 7/10

Summary

Oleksandr Syrskyi is dismissed after backlash over the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Original Text

Oleksandr Syrskyi was praised by President Zelensky for successfully defending Ukraine's capital Kyiv in 2022Oleksandr Syrskyi was praised by President Zelensky for successfully defending Ukraine's capital Kyiv in 2022

PublishedPublished21 July 202621 July 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the country's army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the country's army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

It comes just days after the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov - a move that triggered street protests across the country.It comes just days after the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov - a move that triggered street protests across the country.

Initial rumours that the end of Fedorov's tenure was related to a conflict between him and Syrskyi were soon confirmed.Initial rumours that the end of Fedorov's tenure was related to a conflict between him and Syrskyi were soon confirmed.

Fedorov, 35, has been widely praised for energising the ministry and transforming the armed forces, as well as leading a drive against corruption. Syrskyi, 60, is seen by many in Ukraine as a Soviet-school commander reluctant to implement radical changes in the army.Fedorov, 35, has been widely praised for energising the ministry and transforming the armed forces, as well as leading a drive against corruption. Syrskyi, 60, is seen by many in Ukraine as a Soviet-school commander reluctant to implement radical changes in the army.

He was replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, who is a popular, battle-hardened general.He was replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, who is a popular, battle-hardened general.

"I will work responsibly, with full focus, and with respect for the people who are defending our country today," Drapatyi said on Facebook."I will work responsibly, with full focus, and with respect for the people who are defending our country today," Drapatyi said on Facebook.

He also thanked Syrskyi "for his consistent work to strengthen the Ukrainian army," adding: "I grew up in it."He also thanked Syrskyi "for his consistent work to strengthen the Ukrainian army," adding: "I grew up in it."

In a videoIn a video post on social media late on Tuesday, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his military campaigns, including his role in successfully defending the capital Kyiv during the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. post on social media late on Tuesday, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his military campaigns, including his role in successfully defending the capital Kyiv during the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Zelensky also revealed that earlier in the day, he met Fedorov and offered him a "worthy position in power", but did not say whether the offer had been accepted.Zelensky also revealed that earlier in the day, he met Fedorov and offered him a "worthy position in power", but did not say whether the offer had been accepted.

Fedorov was last week replaced by Yevhenii Khmara, a former top official at Ukraine's Security Service (SBU). Fedorov was last week replaced by Yevhenii Khmara, a former top official at Ukraine's Security Service (SBU).

"All decisions will be formalised tomorrow," Zelensky added in his post."All decisions will be formalised tomorrow," Zelensky added in his post.

Mykhailo Fedorov has not said whether he accepted a new job offer from President ZelenskyMykhailo Fedorov has not said whether he accepted a new job offer from President Zelensky

Meanwhile, Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi with his new job, describing his appointment as a "new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice".Meanwhile, Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi with his new job, describing his appointment as a "new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice".

He said it was "the voice of change that could not be ignored".He said it was "the voice of change that could not be ignored".

Fedorov also revealed that he had called Syrskyi to thank him for the defence of the Kyiv region and other "historic battles".Fedorov also revealed that he had called Syrskyi to thank him for the defence of the Kyiv region and other "historic battles".

"But we need to move even faster and write new chapters correcting all previous mistakes," he added."But we need to move even faster and write new chapters correcting all previous mistakes," he added.

Fedorov had been appointed deFedorov had been appointed defence minister only in Jfence minister only in January - but has been widely praised for using data to analyse and try to improve performance on the front line.anuary - but has been widely praised for using data to analyse and try to improve performance on the front line.

A former minister of digital transformation, he was active from the early days of the full-scale invasion by setting up a volunteer "IT Army of Ukraine" to launch cyber-attacks against Russia.A former minister of digital transformation, he was active from the early days of the full-scale invasion by setting up a volunteer "IT Army of Ukraine" to launch cyber-attacks against Russia.

Later, he led a successful fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones and brought in elements of "gamification" to the war, designing a system that awarded Ukrainian military units with credits for hitting Russian assets.Later, he led a successful fundraising campaign called the Army of Drones and brought in elements of "gamification" to the war, designing a system that awarded Ukrainian military units with credits for hitting Russian assets.

Fedorov's ousting prompted six days of widespread protests, with Zelensky coming under mounting pressure to dismiss Syrskyi. Fedorov's ousting prompted six days of widespread protests, with Zelensky coming under mounting pressure to dismiss Syrskyi.

Zelensky appeared to have bowed to that pressure by replacing him with Drapatyi, who is seen as a younger, more innovative commander. Drapatyi is also thought to be a close friend of Federov's.Zelensky appeared to have bowed to that pressure by replacing him with Drapatyi, who is seen as a younger, more innovative commander. Drapatyi is also thought to be a close friend of Federov's.

Federov's clear endorsement of Drapatyi is likely to go some way towards defusing the political crisis of the past week.Federov's clear endorsement of Drapatyi is likely to go some way towards defusing the political crisis of the past week.

For the time being, acting Defence Minister Khmara remains in the position. President Zelensky has asked him and Drapatyi to come up with a new defence strategy, covering key issues like reforming the military corps system, weapons supply and drones. For the time being, acting Defence Minister Khmara remains in the position. President Zelensky has asked him and Drapatyi to come up with a new defence strategy, covering key issues like reforming the military corps system, weapons supply and drones.

Syrskyi has so far not publicly commented on the latest developments.Syrskyi has so far not publicly commented on the latest developments.

On Monday, he wrote an op-ed for the Militarny website, saying of his relationship with Fedorov: "I perceived our relationship as a working one".On Monday, he wrote an op-ed for the Militarny website, saying of his relationship with Fedorov: "I perceived our relationship as a working one".

"If I offended anyone, Mykhailo Albertovych [Fedorov], I'm sorry.""If I offended anyone, Mykhailo Albertovych [Fedorov], I'm sorry."

On the protests that have been held in several Ukrainian cities, the general wrote that the issues of military contracts, procurement and mobilisation currently being aired in the press and boiled down to pithy slogans by protesters were a great deal more complicated than most people realised.On the protests that have been held in several Ukrainian cities, the general wrote that the issues of military contracts, procurement and mobilisation currently being aired in the press and boiled down to pithy slogans by protesters were a great deal more complicated than most people realised.

"Decisions on which people's lives depend are not made with slogans," he said. "Real work, not the public drama surrounding it, wins the war," Syrskyi wrote."Decisions on which people's lives depend are not made with slogans," he said. "Real work, not the public drama surrounding it, wins the war," Syrskyi wrote.

Protesters will still want to see Fedorov back in a position of real authority, where he can continue to drive forward innovation in Ukraine's battle with Russia.Protesters will still want to see Fedorov back in a position of real authority, where he can continue to drive forward innovation in Ukraine's battle with Russia.

If he gets such a position, Zelensky will have repaired the immediate damage. But many will not forgive him for making what they saw as the wrong choice in the first place.If he gets such a position, Zelensky will have repaired the immediate damage. But many will not forgive him for making what they saw as the wrong choice in the first place.