As protests escalate following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, nicknamed "the butcher," in an attempt to navigate a significant military leadership crisis facing his presidency.

Crucial Military Meeting

The Financial Times reported that Syrskyi's leadership of the Ukrainian armed forces has become the focal point of protests that have intensified since the defense minister's dismissal, as the deepening rift between the officials became untenable. The newspaper quoted a senior Ukrainian administration official saying that Zelensky intends to meet with military leaders this weekend, today (Sunday), to hear their assessments of the battlefield situation and to interview potential candidates for the army's leadership. He added that the Ukrainian president is open to the idea of removing Syrskyi if he can find a successor who ensures a smooth transition of power while maintaining a strong defense along the 1,200-kilometer front line.

Zelensky dismissed Fedorov from his post as Defense Minister last week after, according to Fedorov, Syrskyi presented the president with an "ultimatum" demanding the 35-year-old minister's removal.

The newspaper revealed that the Ukrainian president's consideration of dismissing Syrskyi only gained traction after protests against Fedorov's firing expanded on Friday evening into a broader campaign against the military leader. Thousands of Ukrainians gathered outside the presidential office in one of the largest protests seen in the country in years, chanting "Syrskyi, go away."

Sharp Disputes Among Officials

Zelensky told reporters that the relationship between Fedorov and Syrskyi had deteriorated to the point where the two men no longer spoke to each other, communicating only when the president personally intervened as a mediator. "They don't sit together to talk," he added, noting that while he "deeply desired unity" between Fedorov and Syrskyi, he "failed to achieve that."

During an extraordinary press conference on Thursday, Fedorov stated that Syrskyi had blocked his efforts to reform the Ministry of Defense and accused him of allowing corruption to persist. However, he praised Syrskyi's role in the defense of Kyiv during the initial weeks of the Russian invasion in 2022, as well as the successful counter-offensives in Kharkiv and Kherson in the autumn of that year. Fedorov added that he had urged the Ukrainian president to dismiss Syrskyi, asserting that a restructuring of the high military command is necessary to defeat Russia.

Divergent Views on Combat Strategy

Fedorov and Syrskyi hold 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 forces and artillery.

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

Syrskyi, who trained under Soviet military traditions, is known among some soldiers as "the butcher" due to his willingness to accept high human casualties to achieve military objectives. Syrskyi assumed the role of Commander-in-Chief in February 2024, following the controversial dismissal of his widely popular predecessor, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who currently serves as Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Protests Within the Military Ranks

The newspaper noted that veterans and active-duty soldiers joined the protests against Fedorov's dismissal and the demand for Syrskyi's removal on Thursday and Friday, describing this as a rare indicator of open opposition within the military ranks. The protests widened on Friday evening as thousands of demonstrators gathered in Ivan Franko Square in front of the presidential office in Kyiv, as well as in major cities like Lviv and Odesa.

Zelensky is still searching for a new ambassador to Washington, according to his aides. One aide explained that former Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko remains his top choice, despite her being removed from her post during last week's cabinet reshuffle and her refusal to take the position. Sources close to Zelensky say he is still trying to persuade her to accept the mission, which comes at a critical moment in the war and the relationship with President Donald Trump's administration.