Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering dismissing the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, known by the nickname 'the Butcher,' in an attempt to extricate himself from the biggest military leadership crisis of his presidency, as protests against the army chief escalate following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, according to the Financial Times.

The newspaper reported on Saturday that Syrsky's leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has become a focal point of protests that have escalated since Zelensky dismissed the defense minister, after the deepening rift between the officials became unsustainable.

The newspaper quoted a senior Ukrainian administration official as saying that Zelensky plans to meet with military leaders over the weekend (Sunday) to hear their assessments of the field situation and conduct interviews with potential candidates to take over command of the army.

The official added that the Ukrainian president is open to the idea of dismissing Syrsky from his post if he can find a commander who ensures a smooth transition of power while maintaining a strong defense along the 1,200-kilometer front line.

Zelensky had dismissed Fedorov last week from his post as defense minister, after Syrsky presented the president with an 'ultimatum' demanding the dismissal of the 35-year-old minister, according to Fedorov.

The move revealed divisions over Ukrainian military strategy and the readiness of the armed forces to address their weaknesses, at a time when the momentum of the war against Russia is tilting in Kyiv's favor.

However, according to the newspaper, the Ukrainian president's consideration of dismissing Syrsky only came after the protests against Fedorov's dismissal expanded on Friday evening, turning into a broader campaign against the military commander. Thousands of Ukrainians gathered in front of the presidential office in one of the largest protests the country has seen in years, chanting 'Syrsky, step down.'

Dmytro Kozyatynsky, a former soldier who organized the demonstrations, wrote in a post on X that the main demand of the movement is the dismissal of Syrsky, followed by the reinstatement of Fedorov. He called on Ukrainians to return to the streets at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Sharp differences between officials

Zelensky told journalists that the relationship between Fedorov and Syrsky had deteriorated to the point where the two men no longer spoke to each other and could only communicate when the president personally intervened as a mediator. He added: 'Without me, they don't sit down to talk together,' noting that he 'strongly wished to achieve unity' between Fedorov and Syrsky but 'failed to do so.'

Fedorov stated during an extraordinary press conference on Thursday that Syrsky had obstructed his efforts to reform the Defense Ministry and accused him of allowing corruption to continue. However, he praised his role in defending Kyiv during the first weeks of the Russian invasion in 2022, as well as the successful counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson in the fall of that year.

Fedorov said he urged the Ukrainian president to dismiss Syrsky, stressing the need to restructure the top military leadership in order to defeat Russia.

Conflict over Ukrainian fighting style

Fedorov and Syrsky had radically different visions on how to wage the war. The defense minister saw drones and automation as the future of warfare, while the military commander remained committed to the traditional approach based on offensive infantry and artillery.

Ukraine's Western partners and NATO officials worked closely with Fedorov and supported his reform plans for the opaque Ukrainian Defense Ministry, according to the newspaper. A Western defense attaché in Kyiv said his sudden dismissal came as a shock.

Syrsky, who was trained in the Soviet military tradition, is known among some soldiers by the nickname 'the Butcher' due to his willingness to accept large human losses to achieve military objectives.

Syrsky assumed the post of Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in February 2024, after the controversial dismissal of his highly popular predecessor, Valeriy Zaluzhny, who currently serves as Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Rare protests within the army ranks

The newspaper noted that veterans and active-duty soldiers joined the protests against Fedorov's dismissal and the demand for Syrsky's dismissal on Thursday and Friday, considering it a rare sign of public opposition within the military.

The protests expanded on Friday evening, with thousands of demonstrators gathering in Ivan Franko Square in front of the presidential office in Kyiv, as well as in major cities such as Lviv and Odesa.

Meanwhile, Zelensky is still searching for a new ambassador to Washington, according to his aides. One of them said that former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko remains his first choice, despite being relieved of her post during the cabinet reshuffle last week and her refusal to take the position.

Sources close to the president said Zelensky is still trying to persuade her to take on the mission, which comes at a critical moment in the war and in relations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.