Ukraine’s new command team faces its first three tests
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed a new military command team following the dismissal of General Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The new leadership faces significant challenges in managing civil-military relations and ongoing war efforts.
Why it matters
Leadership instability within the Ukrainian government and military could impact the country's strategic effectiveness in the ongoing conflict.
The most-pressing world events explained by Lowy Institute experts and global contributors, in your inbox, every Wednesday.
You may unsubscribe from The Interpreter at any time. For information on our privacy practices and how to unsubscribe, see our Privacy Policy .
Topics Research Interactives The Interpreter Events People Support us Support us Ukraine , explained.
By Zelenskyy’s own account, Fedorov and Syrskyi clashed so badly that they would only cooperate when the president stepped in to mediate (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP via Getty Images)
The general and the minister must work – and be seen – as a team.
Mick Ryan 22 July 2026 5 min read | Ukraine’s new command team faces its first three tests Ukraine’s new command team faces its first three tests
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in