Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine army chief after protests over defense shake-up

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi after days of protests over a wider wartime government shake-up. For investors watching geopolitical risk, the move adds political uncertainty inside Kyiv as Ukraine keeps targeting Russian energy infrastructure and military assets.

Zelenskyy said in a late-night televised address Tuesday that Mykhailo Drapatyi would become commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, the country’s top military post. He thanked Syrskyi for what he described as a key role in defending Kyiv early in Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to a translation of Zelenskyy’s remarks.

“The operations of Ukraine’s Defense Forces are ongoing and must continue without disruption. Ukraine’s long-range sanctions plan and our mid-strike program will be carried out with absolute precision,” Zelenskyy said.

CNBC reported that the reshuffle followed nearly a week of unrest in several Ukrainian cities and marked one of Zelenskyy’s biggest political crises since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Fedorov could return in a new role

The shake-up also involves Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former defense minister, who was removed from his post last week. Zelenskyy said he had met with Fedorov and offered him a “worthy leadership position” focused on bringing together Ukraine’s technology capabilities and supporting their development.

Fedorov had become closely associated with Ukraine’s use of drones, a central part of Kyiv’s war effort. Drones are unmanned aircraft or systems that can be used for surveillance or strikes without putting a pilot on board.

His dismissal sparked protests in multiple Ukrainian cities, according to CNBC. Demonstrators called for Zelenskyy to reinstate Fedorov and remove Syrskyi. In Lviv, activists gathered for a fifth straight day Monday with banners and flags, according to Getty Images.

Fedorov welcomed Drapatyi’s appointment in a post on X, calling it “a breath of fresh air and a new source of hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice.” He added that it was “the voice of change that could no longer be ignored.”

Drone campaign stays in focus

Drapatyi thanked Zelenskyy and credited Syrskyi for work strengthening Ukraine’s armed forces. “I will work responsibly, focused, and with respect for the people who defend our state today,” Drapatyi wrote in a Facebook post.

The leadership change comes as Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and military targets, including oil refineries in major cities, according to CNBC. Kyiv’s goal has been to raise the economic cost of the war for Russia and weaken Russian forces in southern Ukraine.

Defense experts and strategists cited by CNBC have described Ukraine’s drone campaign as pivotal in slowing Russia’s military momentum. They have also warned that successful long-range strikes, often called deep strikes because they hit targets far from the front line, have raised the risk of escalation.

Zelenskyy’s message was that military operations would continue without interruption. The protests showed that personnel decisions in Kyiv now carry political weight at home as well as military consequences on the battlefield.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.