File photo of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi in 2024. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service / AFP / Lehtikuva
International news
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, responding to six days of protests over a defence leadership dispute that exposed public anger about military reform during the war with Russia.
Zelenskyy also offered former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov a senior government post focused on defence technology, days after his removal triggered demonstrations in Kyiv and other cities.
The president announced the changes in a video address late on Tuesday. He said Drapatyi would lead a reorganisation of the armed forces, update Ukraine’s defence strategy and work with the defence ministry on weapons, drones, mobilisation and the military corps system.
