Why did Zelensky sack his Army Chief?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed the country's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed the country’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, in a major change to Ukraine’s military leadership as the war with Russia enters its fifth year. The decision comes during a difficult period for Ukraine, where fighting continues on several front lines and pressure is mounting on the government to improve military performance.

General Syrskyi had been serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was responsible for leading the country’s military operations against Russian forces. President Zelensky announced that General Mykhailo Drapatyi will replace him as the new army chief.

In his statement, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his service and praised Ukrainian soldiers for defending the country. However, he said Ukraine now needs a “reset” in military leadership to strengthen operations, improve coordination among commanders and address challenges related to troop mobilisation and battlefield management.

The leadership change comes only a few days after Zelensky removed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov from office. That decision sparked public protests in the capital, Kyiv, with many people expressing concern about changes in the country’s defence leadership while the war is still ongoing.

Who is Oleksandr Syrskyi?

General Oleksandr Syrskyi is one of Ukraine’s most experienced military officers. He was born in Russia in 1965 when both Russia and Ukraine were part of the former Soviet Union. During his early military career, he served in Soviet forces before choosing to remain in Ukraine after it became an independent country in 1991.

Over the years, Syrskyi rose through the ranks of the Ukrainian military. In 2014, he led Ukrainian forces during fighting against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Syrskyi became one of the country’s most important military commanders. He played a leading role in defending the capital, Kyiv, from Russian attacks during the early weeks of the war. His leadership was widely praised, and he later received Ukraine’s highest national honour, the title of “Hero of Ukraine.”

He was also credited with planning Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region in 2022. During that operation, Ukrainian forces regained control of several key cities that had been occupied by Russian troops.

Why was he removed?

President Zelensky has not accused Syrskyi of any wrongdoing. Instead, he said the leadership change is aimed at improving Ukraine’s military strategy as the war continues.

Reports suggest there had been disagreements within Ukraine’s defence leadership over military reforms, mobilisation policies and battlefield planning. Former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had previously criticised Syrskyi, saying some reforms were progressing too slowly.

The appointment of General Mykhailo Drapatyi is seen as an attempt to bring fresh leadership and improve cooperation between military commanders and government officials.

Ukraine has changed several military leaders

This is not the first time Ukraine has replaced senior defence officials since the war began.

In September 2023, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov left office after corruption allegations involving the defence ministry.

In February 2024, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was one of Ukraine’s most popular military commanders, was replaced by Syrskyi as commander-in-chief.

Several other senior officers have also been reassigned as Ukraine continues to adjust its military leadership during the conflict.

Russia has also changed its commanders

Russia has also replaced several top military officials since launching its invasion of Ukraine.

The commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was removed after the sinking of the warship Moskva in 2022.

Major General Ivan Popov was dismissed after publicly criticising Russia’s military strategy.

General Sergey Surovikin, who once commanded Russia’s aerospace forces, was also removed following the failed Wagner Group rebellion in 2023.

Why does this matter?

Military leadership plays a crucial role in any war. Commanders make important decisions about troop movements, battlefield tactics, defence planning and military operations.

Ukraine hopes the appointment of General Drapatyi will strengthen its armed forces at a time when Russia continues to launch attacks across different regions. The change also reflects Kyiv’s effort to improve military efficiency and prepare for future operations