Ukraine's Army Chief Latest To Fall Victim To Zelensky's Risky Reshuffle
Zelensky strikes again in another major military firing, amid his promised big cabinet and military 'reshuffle'.
The Ukrainian president announced Tuesday that he was dismissing Oleksandr Syrsky, commander-in-chief of country's army, and appointing joint forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty in his place. Syrsky was in the post for nearly two-and-a-half years, since February 2024.
Now former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky
"I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty... I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine's strong front-line positions," Zelensky unveiled in a post on Telegram.
The decision comes just days after popular 35-year old defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov was sacked, despite his reputation for orchestrating the ramped-up drone war on Russia.
And the defense chief's removal had come soon on the heels of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko's surprise ousting last week, upon which Zelensky in a suggested a broader government overhaul was underway. "Ukraine is changing its political strategy," he made clear.
President Zelensky's Tuesday evening address included mention that he had offered former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov a "decent post" to oversee the technological component of the state.
The remark of taking care of Fedorov is a clear attempt to calm masses of Ukrainians who took to the streets in a rare wartime protest over his shock removal.
Zelensky has said he is doing all of this as part of a new strategy to take the war to Russia and its territory.
"A significant path has been walked, Ukraine’s defense continues, and every soldier deserves proper respect," Zelensky said. "I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to every one of our soldiers for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions."
"Tomorrow we will formalize all decisions. Ukraine must emerge from this situation stronger, and it will become harder for Russia," he said.
The past week has witnessed some high drama within the top echelons of defense ranks, as Kyiv Post explains:
When you've lost The Economist...
All of this raises serious questions for Ukraine's current narrative that it now has the momentum against Russia. If things are going so well, then why undergo risky and drastic leadership changes.
It could be that things are actually not going well and the nature of Ukraine's drone warfare is necessarily limited in scope. It might get media-capturing hits on Russian oil depots, but Russian forces by many accounts keep grinding forward slowly and methodically on the front lines in the east.
Tyler Durden Tue, 07/21/2026 - 20:30
Continue reading...
[ H/T ZeroHedge ]
Zelensky strikes again in another major military firing, amid his promised big cabinet and military 'reshuffle'.
The Ukrainian president announced Tuesday that he was dismissing Oleksandr Syrsky, commander-in-chief of country's army, and appointing joint forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty in his place. Syrsky was in the post for nearly two-and-a-half years, since February 2024.
Now former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky
"I have decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapaty... I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to each of our warriors for Ukraine's strong front-line positions," Zelensky unveiled in a post on Telegram.
The decision comes just days after popular 35-year old defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov was sacked, despite his reputation for orchestrating the ramped-up drone war on Russia.
And the defense chief's removal had come soon on the heels of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko's surprise ousting last week, upon which Zelensky in a suggested a broader government overhaul was underway. "Ukraine is changing its political strategy," he made clear.
President Zelensky's Tuesday evening address included mention that he had offered former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov a "decent post" to oversee the technological component of the state.
The remark of taking care of Fedorov is a clear attempt to calm masses of Ukrainians who took to the streets in a rare wartime protest over his shock removal.
Zelensky has said he is doing all of this as part of a new strategy to take the war to Russia and its territory.
"A significant path has been walked, Ukraine’s defense continues, and every soldier deserves proper respect," Zelensky said. "I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrsky and to every one of our soldiers for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions."
"Tomorrow we will formalize all decisions. Ukraine must emerge from this situation stronger, and it will become harder for Russia," he said.
The past week has witnessed some high drama within the top echelons of defense ranks, as Kyiv Post explains:
When you've lost The Economist...
All of this raises serious questions for Ukraine's current narrative that it now has the momentum against Russia. If things are going so well, then why undergo risky and drastic leadership changes.
It could be that things are actually not going well and the nature of Ukraine's drone warfare is necessarily limited in scope. It might get media-capturing hits on Russian oil depots, but Russian forces by many accounts keep grinding forward slowly and methodically on the front lines in the east.
Tyler Durden Tue, 07/21/2026 - 20:30
Continue reading...
[ H/T ZeroHedge ]
