Ukraine president removes military commander after nationwide protests

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired Ukraine's top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, on Tuesday. Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed to replace him. Syrskyi was known for defending Kyiv early in the war and for leading Ukrainian forces into Russia's Kursk region last summer. Zelenskyy thanked him publicly for his service.

The dismissal followed days of large protests in Kyiv and other cities. People had already taken to the streets after Zelenskyy removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov the week before. Many called Fedorov's removal one of the biggest political crises since Russia's invasion in 2022. Zelenskyy has offered Fedorov another senior role in government. Fedorov had been defence minister for six months before he was dismissed.