Skip to content

Zelensky dismisses Ukraine Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi

newsJul 21, 2026452,787

President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 21 dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Joint Forces commander Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his replacement. The move followed days of nationwide protests triggered by Zelensky’s surprise removal of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov; France 24 quoted correspondent Gulliver Cragg saying protesters’ main demand was Syrskyi’s firing. Syrskyi, 60, had been commander-in-chief since 2024 and was credited with leading the defence of Kyiv at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Zelensky announced the appointment on Telegram, thanked Syrskyi and the country’s warriors for maintaining strong front-line positions, and said he had offered Fedorov a “decent post” to oversee the state’s technological component. France 24 reported Drapatyi is an ally of the ousted Fedorov and that Fedorov called the replacement a “breath of fresh air” and “new hope.”

🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦
@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social

🔥 BREAKING: President Zelensky officially confirmed: Mykhailo Drapatyi will become the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi. The decisions are expected to be formalized tomorrow.

25045d ago
3 sources