Zelenskyy replaces top Ukraine general after mass protests

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief, replacing Oleksandr Syrsky in a significant military leadership change. This decision follows mass protests and demands for Syrsky’s removal, alongside the reinstatement of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Drapatyi represents a younger generation of commanders shaped by the ongoing war, signaling a potential generational shift in Ukraine’s armed forces.

• Mykhailo Drapatyi appointed commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, replacing Oleksandr Syrsky.
• This is the biggest shake-up of Ukraine’s military leadership since 2024.
• The decision follows mass protests demanding Syrsky’s removal.
• Drapatyi, 43, is seen as representing a younger generation of officers shaped by the war.
• Syrsky, 60, is Russian-born and Soviet-trained.
• Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed last week, sparking public trust concerns.
• Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi, calling the change “a breath of fresh air and new hope.”
• Drapatyi has a prominent battlefield record, including in Mariupol and Donbas.
• He previously resigned after a strike killed soldiers, citing accountability.
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