Ukraine President removes Army Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, appoints Mykhailo Drapatyi as new head

By  News On Air   Jul 22, 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has removed Army Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi from his post, appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the armed forces.

Announcing the decision on social media, Zelenskyy said the leadership change is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s military efforts and increasing pressure on Russia to move toward peace. He thanked Syrskyi for his service and praised Ukrainian troops for maintaining strong front-line positions, adding that every soldier deserves dignified treatment.

The move comes just days after the dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a decision that sparked street protests across Ukraine.