Ukraine appoints new army chief Drapaty as Zelensky removes Syrsky amid political crisis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has replaced Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky with joint forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty following days of public protests over the removal of a popular defence minister.
Leadership Change Amid Political Turmoil
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed his army chief Oleksandr Syrsky on Tuesday evening, appointing joint forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty to lead the armed forces amid a political crisis sparked by the ousting of a popular defence minister.
The leadership change marks the third time Zelensky has replaced his top military commander since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, following the earlier removal of Valery Zaluzhny in February 2024 after tensions over military strategy and the failed 2023 counteroffensive.
Syrsky, 60, born in Russia's Vladimir region in 1965 and trained at the Moscow Higher Military Command School alongside classmates who later became Russian commanders, had served as commander-in-chief since 2024. He was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine in April 2022 for successfully defending Kyiv during the early months of Russia's invasion.
"I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty," Zelensky announced on Telegram. "I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine's strong frontline positions."
Political crisis over defence minister
The removal came after days of public protests supporting ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who accused Syrsky of pressuring Zelensky to remove him and blocking his modernisation efforts. Fedorov, 35, was appointed defence minister on January 14, 2026, after serving as Minister of Digital Transformation from 2019, where he oversaw the launch of the government portal Diia and founded the IT Army of Ukraine.
Fedorov's dismissal last Wednesday triggered thousands to demonstrate across Ukraine, with many expressing frustration at the lack of military reforms and calling for Syrsky's removal. The protests marked the second time in recent years that street pressure forced Zelensky to reverse a major decision, following demonstrations in summer 2025 that compelled him to undo a law weakening Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs.
The dispute exposed rare divisions within Ukraine's military and political leadership at a time when Kyiv appeared to be gaining ground. Ukrainian forces have slowed Russian advances significantly in recent months, with data from Ukraine's DeepState monitoring group showing Russian forces made a net gain of 31 square miles between June 9 and July 7, 2026, compared to losing 1 square mile in the previous four-week period. Meanwhile, long-range Ukrainian strikes have hit Russian oil refineries that Kyiv says fuel the invasion.
New commander brings combat experience
Drapaty, a 43-year-old decorated major general born in Kamianets-Podilskyi in 1982, previously commanded Ukraine's ground forces and fought against Moscow-backed separatists during the Donbas war. He graduated from the Kharkiv Tank Forces Institute in 2004 and later received honours from the National Defense University. In June 2021, he was awarded the British Queen's Transitional Sword of Honor as the best graduate at the operational-strategic level.
He gained national recognition in May 2014 when he led an armoured assault through pro-Russian barricades in Mariupol to rescue surrounded Ukrainian police officers during the Donbas conflict. The operation, captured on video purportedly showing him ramming an armoured vehicle through a separatist checkpoint, made him famous across Ukraine.
More recently, Drapaty was appointed commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces in November 2024 and led the defence of Kharkiv region in May 2024 when Russia launched a new offensive there.
"Serving Ukraine has always been an honour for me, and during the war for independence it means absolute responsibility. Glory to the nation. Death to the enemies."
Fedorov welcomed Drapaty's appointment, saying it injected new hope into the fight against Russia. "This is a breath of fresh air and a new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice," he wrote on social media.
Both Russia and Ukraine have escalated aerial strikes in recent months, with the United Nations reporting a surge in civilian deaths in Ukraine during this period.
