Zelensky sacks Ukraine's top army commander after days of protests

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Zelensky sacks Ukraine's top army commander after days of protestsByJaroslav LukivPublished21 July 2026, 20:43 BSTUpdated 2 minutes agoUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked the country's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. His dismissal comes just days after the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov - a move that triggered street protests across the country. Syrskyi was replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi.

Initial rumours that the end of Fedorov's tenure was related to a conflict between him and Syrskyi were soon confirmed. Fedorov, 35, has been widely praised for energising the ministry and transforming the armed forces, as well as heading a drive against corruption. Syrskyi, 60, is seen by many in Ukraine as a Soviet-school commander reluctant to implement radical changes in the army.

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In a post on social media late on Tuesday, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his role in successfully defending the capital Kyiv during the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, and other military campaigns. Drapatyi, the now former commander of Ukraine's Joint Forces, is a popular, battle-hardened general. "All decisions will be formalised tomorrow," Zelensky wrote.

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The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.