Changed navy chief Syrskyi clashed with former Defence Minister Fedorov, whose removing final week led to protests.
Revealed On 21 Jul 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired Oleksandr Syrskyi because the nation’s commander-in-chief, appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi to steer the navy. The transfer got here after six days of protests within the capital, Kyiv, sparked by the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov – who had beforehand clashed with Syrskyi.
Zelenskyy stated Tuesday’s resolution was made to “reset” the continued warfare effort in opposition to Russia.
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“I’m grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to each certainly one of our warriors for Ukraine’s sturdy front-line positions,” Zelenskyy stated in a press release on social media. “I’m grateful to Mykhailo Drapatyi for holding that very same view.”
“Our shared want is one – victory over the enemy and circumstances on the entrance and in stress on Russia that might drive Russia towards peace,” he added. He emphasised the necessity to handle friction inside the navy management and resolve persistent points regarding mobilisation and frontline administration.
Fedorov, who was broadly seen as vital to the warfare effort in opposition to Russia, was faraway from his publish final week, triggering widespread protests throughout the nation.
Demonstrators in Kyiv and different main cities have known as for accountability and a more practical navy technique, with many criticising Syrskyi’s dealing with of the warfare effort, amid rising Ukrainian casualties.
Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, informed reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that the unit documented 1,396 civilians killed and seven,978 wounded in Ukraine within the first six months of 2026.
That was a 37 % improve from the identical interval within the earlier yr and “nearly doubled what we documented in 2024,” she stated.
Each Moscow and Kyiv have intensified air strikes in current months, focusing on one another’s important infrastructure, as United States-led talks on ending Russia’s invasion stay stalled, with the US’s focus largely turned towards its war on Iran.
Russia has continuously used ballistic missiles whereas Kyiv is at present short of Patriot interceptor munitions, that are essential to defend in opposition to the assaults.
In retaliation, Ukraine is intensifying its strikes on Russian territory, primarily focusing on oil depots. A collection of Ukrainian drone assaults killed at least eight warehouse workers on Saturday and injured dozens extra, whereas one other assault triggered a hearth at an oil depot outdoors Moscow.
