President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday via Telegram that he has dismissed Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Zelenskyy thanked Syrskyi and all Ukrainian soldiers, highlighting Syrskyi’s successes in defending Kyiv, conducting the offensive in Kharkiv, and the operation in Kursk.
The position of Commander-in-Chief will be filled by Mykhailo Drapatyj, and the structure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff is set to be reorganized.
This dismissal comes shortly after the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had recently publicly expressed disagreements with Syrskyi. Fedorov’s ousting drew criticism and led to public protests.
The change in leadership occurs amid ongoing severe military action. Russia has recently launched massive attacks, particularly targeting the capital, Kyiv. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU), June saw more civilians killed and injured than in any other month since February 24, 2022.
