The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced today the dismissal of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, and appointed the popular Lieutenant General Mykhailo Drapati as his successor.

“I have decided that Mykhailo Drapati will become the new Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. I thank Oleksandr Syrsky and all our soldiers for their steadfast commitment on the front lines,” Zelensky said.

Zelensky’s decision to appoint 43-year-old General Mykhailo Drapati — who until recently served as Commander of the Joint Forces — to replace Oleksandr Syrsky has sparked reactions across Ukraine.

The move came just days after the dismissal of the popular Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, a decision that triggered protests in several Ukrainian cities.

According to Fedorov’s supporters, his efforts to reform the defence procurement system had sparked resistance within the government. Protesters called on Zelensky to dismiss Syrsky instead of Fedorov.

Facing growing domestic pressure, Zelensky ultimately chose to replace Syrsky with one of the allies of the dismissed defence minister.