President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed out Ukraine’s top general nearly a week after he sacked Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister, who had openly clashed with the general in a major fight over strategy in the war against Russia.The sacking of General Oleksandr Syrskiy, announced late on July 21, followed days of speculation that the man known by many soldiers as the “Butcher of Bakhmut” was fighting for his position as the head of Ukraine’s command.There was no immediate public comment from Syrskiy, or from the General Staff regarding the move.Major General Mykhailo Drapatiy, who heads Ukraine’s land forces, will take over from Syrskiy, Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.“We all have one desire - victory over the enemy and the achievement of such conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would allow us to force Russia to peace,” he said.In a post on Facebook, Drapatiy, 44, acknowledged the move: "Serving Ukraine has always been an honor for me, and during the war for independence, it means absolute responsibility. I am grateful to... Syrskiy, for his consistent work in strengthening the Ukrainian army."The announcement capped a whirlwind week for Zelenskyy and for the entire government and military command with Russia's full-scale invasion now well into its fifth year.It also comes with nascent optimism for Ukraine's military efforts, with its forces battling Russian troops to a near-standstill in many places across the 1,100-kilometer frontline."Drapatiy is an excellent choice, one of the most highly respected leaders among the new generation of Ukrainian officers," said John Hardie, deputy director, Russia Program, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. "I'm hopeful his appointment will both boost morale and help tackle challenges facing the Ukrainian military, particularly when it comes to command culture — a problem Drapatiy has experienced firsthand."