Zelensky sacks commander-in-chief after protests over defense minister dismissal
Ukrainian President Zelensky dismissed the commander-in-chief following mass protests triggered by the earlier dismissal of the defense minister.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has sacked the country's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in a major military shake-up triggered by days of mass protests. The protests began after Zelensky dismissed the popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, last week. Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech innovator credited with transforming Ukraine's drone warfare and long-range strike capabilities, had been in open conflict with the 60-year-old Syrskyi, who was seen as part of the old Soviet-era military hierarchy.
Zelensky announced the change late on [date], praising Syrskyi for his role in defending Kyiv in 2022 and other operations, but saying it was time for a new approach. Syrskyi has been replaced by a much younger general, Mykhailo Drapatyi, who is known to be a close ally of Fedorov. Drapatyi, who led a rescue mission in Mariupol in 2014, was confirmed in post the following day.
The protests, which spread across Ukraine, demanded not only Syrskyi's removal but also Fedorov's reinstatement as defence minister. Zelensky has offered Fedorov an alternative role in government, but the former minister has not yet accepted, and protest leaders say they will continue until he is fully reinstated. Fedorov himself welcomed Drapatyi's appointment, calling it "a breath of fresh air".
The shake-up reflects a deeper power struggle between traditional military thinking and the modern, tech-driven approach championed by Fedorov. Analysts say Zelensky was forced to act after misjudging public anger over Fedorov's sacking. Fedorov's approval rating surged from 35% to 65% after his dismissal, surpassing Zelensky's own rating.
The Kremlin has described the turmoil as evidence of Ukraine "trembling from within", but Ukrainian officials and analysts see it as a sign of a resilient civil society capable of holding its leaders to account, even under the pressure of war. The changes come as Ukraine continues to press its advantage on the battlefield, with drones striking deep into Russian territory, including logistics centres and energy infrastructure.
Drapatyi has pledged to intensify such operations. The new commander-in-chief shares Fedorov's vision of asymmetric warfare, and his appointment is expected to accelerate Ukraine's use of robotics and innovation on the front line. However, the transition carries risks, as Syrskyi retained support from many in the army, navy and militia forces, and the full reorganisation of military command will need to be carried out while the war with Russia continues.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC NEWS | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The new commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyi is a friend of the ousted defence minister Fedorov. | · | ||||
| Zelensky dismissed the commander-in-chief following mass protests over the defence minister's dismissal. | · | ||||
| Fedorov and Syrskyi had been in open conflict for months. | · | · | |||
| Zelensky offered Fedorov a position back in government, but his response is unknown. | · | · | |||
| Fedorov described Drapatyi's appointment as a 'breath of fresh air'. | · | · | · | ||
| Fedorov's approval rating surged to 65% after his dismissal, surpassing Zelensky's. | · | · | · | · | |
| Protesters said they would continue until Fedorov is reinstated as defence minister, not just given another job. | · | · | · | · | |
| Sky News analyst said Syrskyi was supported by the army, navy, and militia forces, so the controversy is not over. | · | · | · | · | |
| The Kremlin described the situation as evidence of Ukraine trembling from within. | · | · | · | · | |
| Zelensky announced that Mikhail Fedorov would be appointed as the new commander-in-chief. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Focused on the immediate sequence of events and the role of protests in forcing Zelensky's hand. The tone was factual and concise, with a clear emphasis on the public pressure and the personal connections between the new commander and the ousted minister.
- “President Zelensky heaped praise on the outgoing commander-in-chief Alexander. Siersky. He credited him with Defending the city this city Kiev back in 2022 and with other key operations along the way”
- “he has removed him and he's replaced him with a much much younger general Mykhailo Drapatyi Who crucially is a friend of the ousted defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov”
- “Mr Fedorov has said that the appointment of the new commander-in-chief is a breath of fresh air”
Provided the most in-depth analysis, including an interview with former US ambassador John Herbst. The coverage stressed Zelensky's political miscalculation, the strategic importance of Fedorov's role, and the positive reaction from Russia to Fedorov's initial firing. The tone was analytical and slightly critical of Zelensky's decision-making.
- “President Zelensky has bowed to the inevitable, frankly, faced with these protests that have been going on for the past week”
- “Zelensky realised that when he fired Fedorov, who deserves a great deal of credit for Ukraine's successful turn of the... war against the Kremlin. That was a serious mistake”
- “They were popping champagne bottles, corks, when Fedorov was fired.”
Focused on the internal power struggle and the clash between old-guard and modern military thinking. The analyst, Michael Clarke, portrayed Zelensky as autocratic and the shake-up as a risky reorganisation in the middle of a war. The coverage also highlighted the military's continued support for Syrskyi, suggesting the controversy is not over.
- “Zelensky has become very autocratic”
- “Fedorov... criticised his own chief of staff. I mean, no country would stand for that.”
- “Sersky was supported by the army, the navy, the militia forces. They all came out in support of him. So the controversy isn't over yet.”
Emphasised the protesters' continued demands and the political fallout, including Fedorov's surge in popularity. The report contrasted the Kremlin's narrative of Ukrainian weakness with the view of a resilient civil society. It also highlighted Fedorov's role in drone innovation and the ongoing strikes on Russian infrastructure.
- “Ukrainian protesters have already secured one of their demands, the firing of the country's divisive commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. But they say they won't stop protesting until Volodymyr Zelensky also reinstates the popular Mikhailo Fedorov as defence minister.”
- “His approval rate has now surged by 30 percent, from 35 to 65 percent, surpassing that of Zelensky.”
- “The Kremlin today calling it evidence of Ukraine trembling from within. In Ukraine, though, it's talked of as a sign of civil society resilient enough to go on”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.