Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine army chief following protests
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi with Mykhailo Drapatyi following a week of civil unrest. The move is part of a broader government reshuffle aimed at addressing political instability and military strategy.
Why it matters
Leadership changes in a nation at war can significantly impact military operations and international diplomatic relations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has moved to oust top army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and sought to bring the country's former defense minister back into government just days after dismissing him .
The reshuffle comes after almost a week of nationwide unrest and represents one of the biggest political crises since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
In a late-night television address, Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he was appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces and thanked the outgoing Syrskyi for playing a key role in Kyiv's defense early in the war.
"The operations of Ukraine's Defense Forces are ongoing and must continue without disruption. Ukraine's long-range sanctions plan and our mid-strike program will be carried out with absolute precision," Zelenskyy said, according to a translation.
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