Zelenskyy dismisses army chief Syrskyi
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (facebook.com_zelenskyy.official)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided to dismiss Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, according to an informed source.
Rumors about Syrskyi's possible dismissal emerged after the removal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The leadership changes at the Defense Ministry also triggered a wave of protests in several Ukrainian cities.
Zelenskyy previously said Fedorov's dismissal was linked to insufficiently effective coordination between the Defense Ministry and the leadership of the Armed Forces.
Syrskyi, however, denied any conflict with Fedorov. He said that the General Staff and the Defense Ministry had experienced only routine professional disagreements, which were resolved through normal working procedures.
Fedorov later stated that he had suggested updating the military leadership to Zelenskyy, but the president rejected the initiative. Following this, according to the former minister, the General Staff began blocking his proposed reforms.
Ukraine's Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi will replace Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.
