Significant personnel changes have taken place within the Ukrainian military department. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has decided to dismiss Oleksandr Syrskyi from the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The corresponding announcement appeared in the official Telegram channel of the head of state, and details of the reshuffle were confirmed by RBK-Ukraine.

Reasons for the resignation

The decision to dismiss the Commander-in-Chief was the culmination of a series of events that began last week. Personnel changes had already been made in the country's government, resulting in Mykhailo Fedorov losing his post as Minister of Defense. After his dismissal, Fedorov held a press conference where he openly stated that there was a conflict with Oleksandr Syrskyi and the leadership of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

These statements caused a stir in society. Protests began in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Participants of the rallies put forward clear demands: return Mykhailo Fedorov to the post of Minister of Defense and dismiss Oleksandr Syrskyi. The resignation of the Commander-in-Chief became a direct response to this wave of public opinion.

Biography and career of Oleksandr Syrskyi

Oleksandr Syrskyi was born in 1965. Over the years of service, he rose from a motorized rifle platoon commander to a separate mechanized brigade commander. His military career is marked by a number of state and departmental awards, as well as the highest military rank — Hero of Ukraine.

Syrskyi has extensive combat experience gained during various stages of the conflict in eastern Ukraine:

  • In February 2015, during the ATO period, he participated in fierce battles for Debaltseve, Hulyaipole, and Lozove.
  • At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he commanded the operation to defend Kyiv.
  • Under his leadership, a successful operation to liberate the Kharkiv region was carried out.

Appointment and departure

On February 8, 2024, Oleksandr Syrskyi was officially appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, his tenure in this post was short-lived. The change in leadership in the country's defense block, the conflict with the Minister of Defense, and subsequent protests led President Zelenskyy to decide on a change of command.