Zelenskyy appoints new Ukrainian military chief after protests

Kyiv’s defence establishment entered a public dispute on Monday after newly appointed army chief Valeriy Syrskyi confronted former defence minister Oleksiy Fedorov, who was dismissed from his post last week. The confrontation, which unfolded during a briefing at the Ministry of Defence, centered on the circumstances of Fedorov’s removal and the strategic direction of the armed forces. Syrskyi, who succeeded the ousted chief amid a broader reshuffle of senior military leadership, asserted that the change was necessary to streamline command structures and improve operational effectiveness in the ongoing conflict.

Fedorov’s dismissal triggered protests outside the ministry building, with supporters demanding transparency and accusing the government of politicising the armed forces. Demonstrators carried placards and chanted slogans calling for Fedorov’s reinstatement, while security forces maintained a visible presence to prevent escalation. Officials have not commented further on the internal disagreement, but the episode underscores growing tensions within Ukraine’s defence hierarchy as it navigates both external threats and internal calls for accountability.