Zelensky Fires Ukraine Army Chief Syrskyi, Names Drapaty as Replacement

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday that he had relieved General Oleksandr Syrskyi of his duties as commander‑in‑chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapaty to the position. The decision came amid growing public scrutiny of the army’s performance and calls for leadership changes.

Syrskyi had overseen the military’s operations since 2022, but critics argued that his strategies had not yielded decisive results against Russian forces. Drapaty, a veteran of the 2014 conflict and former commander of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, is expected to bring a new approach to the war effort. The change is part of a broader effort by the Ukrainian government to strengthen morale and effectiveness within the armed forces as the country continues to confront ongoing hostilities.