Key facts
- President Zelensky is considering dismissing Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
- Protests erupted following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
- Protesters are calling for Syrskyi's resignation and advocating for General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his replacement.
- Syrskyi denied reports of conflict with Fedorov, characterizing their relationship as professional.
- Zelensky is reportedly choosing from a list of 11 potential candidates for the Commander-in-Chief position.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly considering the dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi amid ongoing protests and public backlash following the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Syrskyi, in his first public comments on the matter, denied reports of a conflict with Fedorov, characterizing their relationship as professional despite disagreements and stating that reducing the war to a personal confrontation favors the enemy. The protests, which have drawn thousands, oppose Fedorov's dismissal and increasingly call for Syrskyi's resignation, citing his centralized, Soviet-style command structure and micromanagement. Zelensky has met with Syrskyi, Drapatyi, and other military leaders as he weighs a decision on Syrskyi's future. Syrskyi also addressed defense procurement, drone policy, and mobilization reforms, defending his initiation of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces and criticizing Fedorov's recent contract reforms for demotivating soldiers. Zelensky is reportedly choosing from a list of 11 potential candidates for the Commander-in-Chief position, with Drapatyi considered the most likely successor.