Former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov congratulated Mykhailo Drapatyi on his appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, calling it “a breath of fresh air” and “a voice of change.” He also called Oleksandr Syrskyi and thanked him for military operations and his role in defending Ukraine.
Fedorov described the personnel decision as “a breath of fresh air” and “new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice.”
He said the high expectations of Ukrainians must now be met with a clear vision for ending the war, a strong team and decisive action. Among the necessary steps, he named protecting the lives of service members, expanding the use of robotic systems on the front line, conducting asymmetric strikes and exhausting the Russian economy.
Fedorov also said he had called Oleksandr Syrskyi and thanked him for the defence of the Kyiv region, the Kharkiv operation and other historic battles.
At the same time, the former minister said Ukraine needed to move faster, correct previous mistakes and “write new chapters.”
On the evening of July 21, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Oleksandr Syrskyi was leaving his post as Commander-in-Chief and would be succeeded by Mykhailo Drapatyi. According to the president, he had worked with Drapatyi, Yevhenii Khmara and Pavlo Palisa to determine the future configuration of the General Staff.
Zelenskyy thanked Syrskyi for the results achieved during the defence of Kyiv, the Kharkiv counteroffensive and the Kursk operation. The president also said he had discussed their future forms of service and the handover of responsibilities with Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov.
On the same day, Zelenskyy met Fedorov and offered him a “worthy position in government” that, according to the president, would bring together the state’s technological capabilities and ensure their continued development. Zelenskyy did not name a specific position, while Fedorov did not say in his statement whether he had accepted the offer.
The personnel decision was preceded by a conflict between Fedorov and Syrskyi. After being dismissed as defence minister, Fedorov alleged that the commander-in-chief had blocked the ministry’s initiatives.
Zelenskyy later acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi had been unable to find common ground, while problems on the battlefield, within brigades and with mobilisation remained unresolved. Syrskyi said that he had regarded his relationship with Fedorov as strictly professional and had not been aware of a conflict between them.
Following Fedorov’s dismissal, street demonstrations began in Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities on July 16. Participants demanded his reinstatement as defence minister and Syrskyi’s dismissal. The protests continued for six days, ending when Zelenskyy announced the change in military leadership.
