Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the biggest change in military leadership in months, dismissing the commander-in-chief of the army Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his successor, in a move aimed at containing an internal political crisis that sparked widespread protests and giving a new boost to the war effort against Russia.

The changes came days after escalating criticism within Ukraine over the dispute between former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Syrskyi, a dispute many saw as a symbol of the conflict between advocates of modernizing the military institution and supporters of the traditional approach. According to the Associated Press, Zelensky asked the new leadership to prepare an updated defense strategy that includes accelerating army structural reform, strengthening air defenses, speeding up the delivery of weapons and drones, in addition to developing a clearer plan for military mobilization.

Then-Ukrainian Ground Forces commander Mykhailo Drapatyi speaks to journalists at an undisclosed location in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on January 6, 2025, amid Russia's invasion of the country (AFP)

Conflict between two military schools

According to an analysis by French newspaper Le Figaro, the change made by Zelensky reflects a confrontation between two visions of war management. The pro-modernization camp, represented by Fedorov, believes that Ukraine can regain the initiative through military innovation, expanding the use of drones, and intensifying long-range strikes inside Russian territory.

In contrast, the traditionalist trend, associated with Syrskyi, tends to focus on containing Russian advances and managing the war with a more conservative approach, which drew criticism from soldiers and officers who accused him of relying on methods influenced by the Soviet military legacy and prioritizing loyalty over competence.

The newspaper notes that Zelensky initially tried to contain the crisis by offering a new government position to Fedorov to coordinate the defense industries and technology sector, but that did not end the protests that demanded his return to the Defense Ministry.

Then-Ukrainian Armed Forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi (left) attends a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 10, 2024 (Reuters)

Attempt to contain protests

Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities witnessed demonstrations involving civilians, servicemen, and former fighters, demanding military reform and increased transparency, while protest organizers threatened to expand actions if their demands were not met.

Ukrainian analysts believe that Zelensky, through dismissing Syrskyi, sought to calm the street without appearing to fully succumb to protesters' pressures, especially since reinstating Fedorov to his post could give him significant political influence within state institutions.

Ukrainians gather to denounce President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov six months after he took office in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on July 19, 2026 (AP)

New leadership and bet on innovation

Drapatyi, 43, is considered one of the most prominent leaders of the new generation in the Ukrainian army, and has been known since 2014 during the first confrontations with Russian forces after Moscow's annexation of Crimea. He has also publicly called for addressing the military institution's mistakes and not remaining silent about failures.

Fedorov welcomed Drapatyi's appointment, considering him a "new hope" in Ukraine's battle, while Syrskyi, in his first comment after his dismissal, affirmed that the Ukrainian army has this year recaptured 743 square kilometers of territory previously controlled by Russia, and that he is handing over to his successor an army that not only defends but continues to carry out offensive operations—a claim that could not be independently verified, according to the Associated Press.

A fire at the site of a Russian airstrike on Zaporizhzhia amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine... July 21, 2026 (AFP)

Moscow: Changes will not change the course of war

In contrast, Moscow downplayed the significance of the changes in Kyiv, stressing that they would not affect the course of military operations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian leadership adheres to its previous conditions for ending the war, which include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the four regions that Russia has declared annexed, Kyiv abandoning its aspirations to join NATO, and reducing the size of its army.

The political changes coincided with continued long-range mutual attacks, as Ukraine announced targeting warehouses belonging to the Russian company Wildberry, while Russia continued to launch missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian territory, killing a woman in the Odesa region.