Activists protest for the fifth consecutive day against the resignation of Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov with banners and flags during a rally near the monument to Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko in Lviv, Ukraine, July 20, 2026.
Global Images Ukraine | Global Images Ukraine | getty images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ousted top army commander Oleksandr Syrsky and sought to bring the country’s former defense minister back into the government, just days after firing him.
The reshuffle follows nearly a week of nationwide unrest and represents one of the biggest political crises since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
In a late-night television address, Zelensky Said On Tuesday he was appointing Mykhailo Drupaty as the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and thanked the outgoing Syrsky for the key role he played in the defense of Kiev at the start of the war.
According to a translation, Zelensky said, “The operation of the Defense Forces of Ukraine is ongoing and should continue without interruption. Ukraine’s long-range interdiction plan and our mid-strike program will be implemented with complete precision.”
Drapati thanked Zelensky and paid tribute to Syrsky for his work to strengthen the country’s armed forces. “I will serve responsibly, with focus and with respect for those who are protecting our state today,” Drapati said in a Facebook post. Post.
The Ukrainian president also said he met with former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and offered him “a worthy leadership position that will allow him to bring together the technological capabilities of our country and ensure their continued development.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (right) and Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (left) walk for a joint meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on February 12, 2026.
Global Images Ukraine | Global Images Ukraine | getty images
Fedorov, seen as a populist and supporter of Ukraine’s drone war, was fired last week in a surprise move that sparked protests in several Ukrainian cities.
The protests continued for a fifth straight day on Monday, with demonstrators holding signs and waving flags as part of pressure on Zelensky to reinstate Fedorov and fire Syrsky.
Fedorov congratulated Drapati on his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army in a post on social media.
Fedorov said, “This is a breath of fresh air and a new source of hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice. This is the voice of change that can no longer be ignored.” Said through x
After boosting drone production and capabilities more than four years into the war, Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and military assets, targeting high-profile oil refineries in major cities as part of a sustained effort to raise Russia’s economic costs of the conflict and weaken Russian forces in southern Ukraine.
Defense experts and strategists have hailed Ukraine’s drone campaign as crucial in helping curb Russia’s military momentum, while warning that Kiev’s deep strike successes significantly increase the risk of escalating tensions.