Zelensky dismissed Syrsky from the post of commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. What the media is writing
- Новости
- World
- Zelensky dismissed Syrsky from the post of commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. What the media is writing
Alexander Syrsky, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), has been dismissed. By the decision of the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, Mikhail Drapaty, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was appointed in his place. The change of military leadership took place amid protests over the dismissal of Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov. How the world's media react to the events in Kiev is in the Izvestia digest.
Bloomberg: Zelensky dismissed army commander-in-chief Syrsky
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, after nationwide protests demanding the resignation of this high-ranking military officer. Zelensky said late on July 21 that Syrsky would be replaced by the commander of the joint forces, Major General Mikhail Drapaty. By ousting Syrsky, Zelensky conceded to a key demand from thousands of Ukrainians who have been taking to the streets of cities across the country since July 16.
Bloomberg
The reason for the rallies was Zelensky's ouster last week of Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who was fighting for power with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. "We have come a long way, the defense of Ukraine continues, and every soldier should be treated with dignity," Zelensky said in a Telegram message, commenting on Syrsky's dismissal.
Zelensky praised Syrsky for his contribution. He also promised changes in the "configuration of the military headquarters," without going into details. The President stated that he had offered Fedorov a "worthy position" to promote the development of Ukrainian technologies. Fyodorov, 35, is considered by many Ukrainians to be one of the most effective wartime reformers, and his resignation has caused widespread outrage. After his dismissal, Fedorov stated that he had a conflict with Syrsky about the direction of development of the Ukrainian army, and he asked Zelensky to dismiss the chief of staff.
CNN: Zelensky fired the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army after mass protests
Zelensky fired the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, General Alexander Syrsky, after several days of mass protests against the resignation of the country's popular defense minister Mikhail Fedorov. Syrsky's successor, 43-year—old Mikhail Drapaty, is a younger general who is often described as a representative of a new generation of military leaders who built their careers during the current conflict with Russia.
CNN
Syrsky, who is 60 years old, was born in the Vladimir region of Russia, which was then part of the Soviet Union, and studied at the Moscow military College with classmates who later became Russian commanders. Some critics described him as a man without imagination, but capable, and he was criticized for delaying the defense of Bakhmut (Artemovsk – Ed.) at the cost of great human sacrifices.
As the protests against Fedorov's resignation continued, speculation about Syrsky's future intensified. On July 20, Zelensky met with several high-ranking Ukrainian generals, and the commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine himself made a veiled statement that "the position of society has been heard." Syrsky, who rarely speaks publicly, wrote an article for local military media in which he apologized if he offended Fedorov in any way. He also took responsibility for creating a drone unit as a separate branch of the military and rejected suggestions that he did not support the widespread use of drones.
Associated Press: the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine earned a reputation in 2014
The new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army earned a reputation as a brave and determined fighter in the early days of the country's struggle against Russia, and then spent ten years on combat missions, steadily rising through the ranks. Drapaty is known for his exceptional discipline and high efficiency in combat, and he is often deployed to stabilize the most important sectors of the front. He rarely appears in public, but nevertheless, he has earned wide respect and popularity in the army and beyond due to his past victories.
Associated Press
His reputation was formed in 2014 <...>. In May <...>, as a major commanding a battalion of the 72nd brigade, he led an armored column that entered the center of Mariupol <...>. When the convoy's path was blocked by a barricade more than a meter high, Drapaty, who was riding in the lead car, ordered the driver to accelerate, and the car jumped over the barrier, as if off a ski jump. This moment, captured in a widely distributed video, is considered one of the most remarkable episodes of the early period of resistance.
It was a bold step for the Ukrainian army at that time, as decisive and independent actions by officers on the ground were rare. The army was still poorly equipped, untested, and feared any action that could escalate tensions with Russia. A few months later, Drapaty's battalion was surrounded near the Russian border, where it remained for several weeks. Instead of laying down his weapons and leaving, Drapaty decided to fight his way out, withdrawing 260 soldiers and more than 30 pieces of equipment from the encirclement at night.
The Washington Post: Zelensky removes the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amid ongoing large-scale changes
Zelensky appointed Major General Mikhail Drapaty, commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to replace General Alexander Syrsky, who has led the army since February 2024 and has earned a reputation as a loyal man to the president. Syrsky's dismissal came amid several days of political instability in Ukraine after Zelensky fired popular Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov last week.
The Washington Post
These personnel changes revealed a sharp generational difference among senior leaders at a time when the Ukrainian armed forces seemed to be gaining a fighting advantage over Russia. The dismissal of the defense minister sparked mass protests in Kiev and other cities. The demonstrators said they feared the move could undermine Ukraine's military efforts and called for his reinstatement.
As protests in support of Fedorov spread, Drapaty supported the ousted defense minister. In recent days, Zelensky has been under increasing pressure from lawmakers and protesters to oust Syrsky. It remains unclear whether Fedorov will return to an official position. Zelensky appointed Yevhen Khmar as acting Minister of Defense and said he would ask parliament to approve his candidacy later. Previously, Khmara served as the head of the country's security service.
Reuters: Who is Mikhail Drapaty, the new commander of the Ukrainian army
Drapaty, the commander of the joint forces responsible for Ukraine's defense in the northeast, is described by colleagues as a new generation general whose career was shaped by the battle against Russian troops. During his 26 years of service in the army, he rose through the ranks from lieutenant to one of Ukraine's most effective combat commanders. Last week, in a rare public post, he said that the Ukrainian army needs changes and new rules.
Reuters
As commander of the ground forces, Drapaty tried to implement reforms and modernize recruitment and training systems. He then said that he wanted to support initiative and flexibility among the front-line troops, seeing it as a strength unlike some other Soviet-trained generals in the Ukrainian army.
But his tenure was short. After the attack on the army training center in June 2025, Drapaty resigned, saying that he felt personally responsible for the tragedy. His resignation then stunned many in Ukraine. Soon after, he was assigned to a less significant but more combat-oriented role as commander of the combined forces.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
