Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov congratulated newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapaty, calling his appointment “a breath of fresh air and new hope” just a week after his own dismissal triggered nationwide protests.
His statement came shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement that Drapaty will become the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing Oleksandr Syrsky, a decision reached alongside acting defense minister Yevhen Khmara, and Deputy Head of the President’s Office Pavlo Palisa.
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“This is a breath of fresh air and new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice. It’s the voice of change that could not be ignored,” Fedorov wrote.
Fedorov’s earlier push for change
Fedorov’s reaction follows weeks of public criticism in which he called for “fundamental personnel decisions,” including a new commander-in-chief and a new chief of the General Staff. Fedorov said that he had proposed replacing Syrsky and General Staff Chief Andriy Hnatov, a request Zelensky initially declined.
According to The New Voice of Ukraine, Drapaty had publicly backed Fedorov during the dispute, noting that the former minister’s push for reform reflected a genuine attempt to change the military system.
Although Fedorov’s tenure lasted only about six months, he managed to quickly gain public support because of his advanced military achievements and ongoing military reforms. Since the beginning of his post in January, the military has carried out more than 50,000 logistics and evacuation missions using ground robotic complexes (GRCs), preserving thousands of soldiers’ lives in high-risk situations.
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By contrast, he accused Syrsky of blocking military reforms and calling for changes in the military’s top leadership while defending his own record on robotics, drones and air defense.
Expectations for the new commander
“Now, the high expectations of Ukrainians must be met with a clear vision for ending the war for independence,” Fedorov said, specifically calling for roboticizing the front line, delivering asymmetric strikes, and exhausting Russia’s economy as priorities for the incoming leadership.
Acknowledging Syrsky’s personal record
Despite their earlier conflict, Fedorov said he personally called the ousted commander to thank him for defending the Kyiv region, leading the Kharkiv operation, and other historic battles.
“This is already an important part of Ukraine’s history,” Fedorov said. “But we need to move even faster and write new chapters, correcting all previous mistakes.”
On Monday, Syrsky broke his silence and apologized to ousted Fedorov in a rare personal column, saying he had no knowledge of their conflict before it spilled into public view.
“For me, it was a surprise to learn that the minister and I had a conflict. I saw our relationship as a working one, with difficult questions and different positions,” Syrsky wrote. “If I offended someone with something: Mykhailo Albertovych [Fedorov], I’m sorry. I can be tough.”
Fedorov’s dismissal, which was a result of a broader cabinet reshuffle, alongside his military dispute with Syrsky’s leadership, sparked nationwide protests with many Ukrainians expressing frustration about the situation, saying he was dismissed as soon as his efforts began showing results, and arguing that authorities who deliver progress are too often pushed out of their posts.
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