Zelensky Ready to Remove Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Amid Mass Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering dismissing the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in what would be an attempt to defuse the most severe personnel crisis in the army since he took office, the Financial Times reports, citing a senior official from the Ukrainian president's office.

According to the source, Zelensky convened top military commanders over the weekend to discuss the situation at the front and possible candidates for the post of commander-in-chief. The president is reportedly prepared to dismiss Syrskyi if an officer can be found who is capable of ensuring a smooth transfer of command and preserving stability within the defensive ranks.

The crisis erupted after Zelensky declined to reappoint Rustem Umerov as defense minister — the original report also mentions the surname Fedorov — after which thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets demanding the minister's reinstatement. Under his leadership, the defense ministry had achieved notable successes, but he had fallen into conflict with Syrskyi. Zelensky explained his decision by pointing precisely to the minister's inability to find common ground with the commander-in-chief.

Since Thursday, protests have taken place in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv and Odesa, with demonstrators demanding the minister's return and Syrskyi's dismissal. Sources close to Zelensky say the president had not anticipated discontent on this scale.

Nevertheless, a return of the former defense minister to his post now appears to be off the table: on Sunday, Zelensky officially nominated Yevhen Khmara, previously head of Ukrainian intelligence, for the position. According to Ukrainska Pravda, Zelensky said that on Monday, after talks with army commanders, he would hold "key negotiations," the format of which he has not yet specified.

There is also discussion of appointing the ousted minister to Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council while retaining broad powers — while Syrskyi's own position, according to available information, has been shaken not only by the protesters but also by Zelensky's own attitude toward him.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz