Zelensky sacks Ukraine's top army commander after days of protests
BBC News 2026-07-21 19:57:38
Context: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the country's top army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, amid ongoing protests following the recent removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The move comes as a significant shake-up in Ukraine's military leadership, with Syrskyi being replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi. This development has sparked widespread attention and speculation about the future of Ukraine's military strategy.
Key Facts
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked Oleksandr Syrskyi, the country's commander-in-chief, on July 21, 2026, at 20:43 BST, with the decision to be formalized the following day.
- Syrskyi, aged 60, was seen by many in Ukraine as a Soviet-school commander who was reluctant to implement radical changes in the army, in contrast to Fedorov, who was praised for energizing the ministry and transforming the armed forces.
- Mykhailo Drapatyi, the former commander of Ukraine's Joint Forces, has been appointed as Syrskyi's replacement, and is viewed as a popular, battle-hardened general.
- The dismissal of Syrskyi follows the recent removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old who had been widely praised for his efforts to transform the armed forces and drive out corruption.
- Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his role in successfully defending the capital Kyiv during the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, and other military campaigns, in a post on social media.