President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering replacing Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky with Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapaty, the commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces Command, Bloomberg reported on July 21, citing two sources familiar with the discussions.
One source said Zelensky is likely to appoint Drapaty as Syrsky’s successor, with a decision potentially coming within days. A second source said no final decision has been made and that 11 candidates are being considered.
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Zelensky’s aide Dmytro Lytvyn declined to comment. Zelensky confirmed he met with Drapaty on Monday, July 20, but did not mention any plans to replace the army chief.
The reported discussions come as Zelensky faces his most serious military leadership crisis since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and other cities following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on July 15, who had served in the role for only six months but quickly gained public support.
Fedorov said after his dismissal that he had pushed for Syrsky’s removal, accusing the commander-in-chief of blocking military reforms. He also claimed Syrsky had issued Zelensky an “ultimatum” demanding the minister’s dismissal.
Zelensky had previously acknowledged that relations between Fedorov and Syrsky had deteriorated significantly and that the two officials had stopped communicating directly.
Syrsky Breaks Silence, Apologizes to Ousted Defense Minister Fedorov
Syrsky, meanwhile, publicly apologized to Fedorov in a rare personal column published after the dispute between the two officials became public.
He said he was surprised to learn that the minister viewed their relationship as a conflict and denied claims that he had blocked reforms or undermined the defense ministry.
“If I offended someone with something: Mykhailo Albertovych, I’m sorry. I can be tough,” Syrsky wrote, while urging Ukrainians not to turn the dispute into a personal rivalry. “Ukraine is bigger than Fedorov, Syrsky, or any of us.”
Syrsky warned against dividing society into “Fedorov” and “Syrsky” camps, saying Russia would benefit from internal divisions and that the war would be won through “real work, not public drama.”
He also defended the division of responsibilities between the defense ministry and military command, saying the ministry oversees procurement, supplies and policy, while battlefield strategy and operations are the responsibility of the commander-in-chief.
Syrsky rejected accusations that he lacks a military strategy or micromanages operations, saying Ukraine’s forces operate through a chain of command that gives battlefield decisions to commanders on the ground.
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Zelensky was prepared to dismiss Syrsky if he could find a successor capable of ensuring a smooth transition while maintaining Ukraine’s defense along the 1,200-kilometer front line.
Syrsky has served as Ukraine’s top military commander since February 2024, when he replaced Gen. Valery Zaluzhny.
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