Zelensky Fires Army Chief Syrskyi After Six Days of Protests, Names Drapatyi

President Zelensky dismissed Commander-in-Chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi after six consecutive days of nationwide protests triggered by the mid-July dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had repeatedly clashed with Syrskyi over drone-warfare strategy. Zelensky replaced him with Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander of the Joint Forces, calling the move a 'reset' of Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. Drapatyi is regarded as a proponent of Western-style decentralized command over Syrskyi's Soviet-school, manpower-heavy tactics that critics say have become obsolete under omnipresent drone surveillance. Zelensky also offered Fedorov a new senior leadership role. The reshuffle marked one of the biggest wartime political crises since 2022, following the earlier ouster of PM Svyrydenko and confirmation of Serhii Koretskyi as her replacement.