Oleksandr Syrskyi, the head of the Ukrainian army, was fired by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
It occurs just days after popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was fired, a decision that sparked nationwide demonstrations.
It was quickly discovered that Fedorov’s dismissal was due to a disagreement with Syrskyi.
The 35-year-old Fedorov has received a lot of recognition for revitalizing the ministry, revolutionizing the military, and spearheading an effort to combat corruption. Many in Ukraine view 60-year-old Syrskyi as a Soviet-style leader who is hesitant to make drastic changes to the army.
Mykhailo Drapatyi, a 43-year-old popular and battle-hardened commander, took his post.
Zelensky commended Syrskyi for his military actions, including his part in successfully defending the capital city of Kyiv during the initial stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, in a video message on social media late on Tuesday.
Zelensky also said that he had seen Fedorov earlier in the day and promised him a “good position in power,” though he did not specify if Fedorov had accepted the offer.
Yevhenii Khmara, a former senior official at Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), took Fedorov’s job last week.
