Ukraine Russia war: Zelensky sacks top army commander after days of protests
The move follows days of protests over military reforms and leadership style, with officials saying the army needs faster modernization and stronger battlefield coordination.
- On Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi after days of mass protests in Kyiv.
- Demonstrators demanded Syrskyi's removal, citing his rigid Soviet-style command culture, while calling for the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had advocated for military modernization.
- Drapatyi led a 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade battalion in 2014 to rescue besieged officials in Mariupol. He later commanded forces that halted Russian advances on Kryvyi Rih and organized the 2024 defense of the Kharkiv region.
- "I will work responsibly, with full focus, and with respect for the people defending our country today," Drapatyi said on Facebook. Zelenskyy discussed future service with Syrskyi but announced no new post for him.
- The war enters its fifth year as Ukraine seeks to gain the upper hand by striking Russian energy and logistics sectors. The military must maintain operations while navigating internal debates over modernization and command culture.
373 Articles
373 Articles
Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s top general after protests
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed his top general on Tuesday amid swelling public protests and growing concerns that the national unity that had helped the country survive nearly five years of war was in danger of fracturing. The post Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine’s top general after protests appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for Ukraine’s New Military Commander Just Hours After Appointment
Russian law enforcement authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the newly appointed commander of Ukraine’s armed forces, Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, state media reported late Tuesday.
Zelenskyy left with little choice but to sack his army chief – and it’s a spectacular fall from grace
In a significant move in the middle of a war, Ukraine’s president has sacked his military chief and is seeking to woo a former defence minister back into the fold – just days after ousting him too. Source link : https://news.sky.com/story/why-zelenskyy-has-sacked-ukraines-armed-forces-chief-13565831 Author : Publish date : 2026-07-22 00:16:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the [...]
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