Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked the country’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
His dismissal comes just days after the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov – a move that triggered street protests across the country. Syrskyi was replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Initial rumours that the end of Fedorov’s tenure was related to a conflict between him and Syrskyi were soon confirmed.
Fedorov, 35, has been widely praised for energising the ministry and transforming the armed forces, as well as heading a drive against corruption.
Syrskyi, 60, is seen by many in Ukraine as a Soviet-school commander reluctant to implement radical changes in the army.
In a post on social media late on Tuesday, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his role in successfully defending the capital Kyiv during the first days of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, and other military campaigns.
Drapatyi, the now former commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces, is a popular, battle-hardened general.
“All decisions will be formalised tomorrow,” Zelensky wrote.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
Related topics
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- War in Ukraine
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Europe
