Syrsky Dismissed as Commander-in-Chief, Drapaty Replaces Him

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapaty will become the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ending days of speculation amid the country’s deepening military leadership crisis. The decision was made alongside acting defense minister after Fedorov’s dismissal,Yevhen Khmara, and Deputy Head of the President’s Office Pavlo Palisa, Zelensky said.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Together, they also discussed how to restructure the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Separately, Zelensky confirmed meeting with outgoing Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky and General Staff Chief Andriy Hnatov to discuss future service arrangements and the handover of responsibilities. “I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to every one of our soldiers for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions. I am grateful to Mykhailo Drapaty for precisely this kind of outlook,” Zelensky said. Praise for Syrsky’s record “A significant path has been walked, Ukraine’s defense continues, and every soldier deserves proper respect,” Zelensky said. “I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to every one of our soldiers for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions,” he continued. Zelensky credited Syrsky with securing key wartime results, including the defense of Kyiv, the Kharkiv counteroffensive operation, and the Kursk operation. Other Topics of Interest The Battle Beyond the Battlefield: Winning Back Hearts Ukraine won the West's sympathy after 2022. Today, historical disputes, political missteps, and fading solidarity risk undermining the public support it will need most on its path to the EU. Formal decisions expected Thursday “Tomorrow we will formalize all decisions. Ukraine must emerge from this situation stronger, and it will become harder for Russia,” Zelensky said regarding the formalization of the leadership change, without specifying further details on the timeline or scope of the General Staff restructuring. The announcement follows days of uncertainty, during which Ukraine’s General Staff had repeatedly denied earlier reports that Syrskyi had already been dismissed, insisting he remained in his post pending a presidential decree. The decision comes as Zelensky faces what most deem as his most serious military leadership crisis since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Following the July 15 dismissal of Fedorov, who had served only six months but quickly gained public support because of his advanced military achievements, thousands of Ukrainian demonstrators have taken to the streets nationwide. Fedorov said after his dismissal that he had pushed for Syrsky’s removal, accusing the commander-in-chief of blocking military reforms, and calling for changes in the military’s top leadership while defending his own record on robotics, drones and air defense. Under Fedorov’s tenure, Ukraine deepened its reliance on unmanned systems for dangerous frontline missions. Since January, the military has carried out more than 50,000 logistics and evacuation missions using ground robotic complexes (GRCs) in order to preserve soldiers’ lives in high-risk situations. In a rare personal column, Syrsky broke silence and apologized to ousted Fedorov, saying he had no knowledge of their conflict before it spilled into public view. “For me, it was a surprise to learn that the minister and I had a conflict. I saw our relationship as a working one, with difficult questions and different positions” Syrsky wrote. “If I offended someone with something: Mykhailo Albertovych [Fedorov], I’m sorry. I can be tough,” he continued. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.