Zelenskyy replaces top general after protests over defense chief’s ouster
Ukraine’s president named Mykhailo Drapatiy to command the armed forces after days of backlash over Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Ukraine’s military leadership shakeup widened Tuesday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would replace Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander in chief of the armed forces, after six days of protests over a separate firing, CBS News reported from Kyiv.
Zelenskyy announced that Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatiy would take over the top military post. Drapatiy currently commands the Joint Forces in Kharkiv Oblast, where Ukrainian forces have made what CBS News described as considerable battlefield progress against Russia.
The move follows Zelenskyy’s dismissal last Wednesday of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy said at the time that Fedorov and Syrskyi were locked in a dispute that could not be resolved.
Speaking to journalists in Kyiv last week, Zelenskyy said he had wanted unity, but the two sides had failed to reach it. He also said he shared responsibility for the breakdown and that the situation required choosing between the two men because, without him, they would not sit down together.
The firing of Fedorov triggered broad criticism inside Ukraine, according to CBS News. Fedorov, 35, is a former tech entrepreneur and has strong support among younger Ukrainians for what CBS News described as ambitious technology changes and anti-corruption work inside the military.
Demonstrators turned out in cities across the country with signs calling for Fedorov to be returned to the defense ministry and for Syrskyi to be removed. United24, a pro-government Ukrainian media organization, said it would pause publishing to join the protests.
The backlash also reached the defense establishment. CBS News reported that some senior defense officials resigned, including the deputy commander of the Air Force.
One Ukrainian lawmaker from Zelenskyy’s own party told CBS News that Fedorov’s replacement would not be accepted, saying, “100% we will not accept” the appointment.
Zelenskyy responded publicly to the unrest last Thursday, saying at a news conference that he understood and listened to the reaction. He also suggested the personnel changes were not settled, telling reporters the matter was still under consideration.
Over the weekend, Zelenskyy met several of Ukraine’s top commanders before announcing Drapatiy’s appointment Tuesday.
CBS News reported that Drapatiy is viewed as more reform-minded and closer to Fedorov than other possible choices for the role.
In a Telegram post announcing the decision, Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s defense continues and that soldiers must be treated with dignity. He said the shared aim remained victory over Russia and creating battlefield and pressure conditions that could force Russia toward peace.
CBS News did not report a public response from Syrskyi to Zelenskyy’s decision.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.