Story perspectives

Zelensky Dismisses Army Chief, Offers Deputy PM Post to Fedorov

7/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

On July 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Zelenskyy offered defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov a deputy-prime-minister post, which Fedorov rejected.
On July 24, protesters demanded Fedorov’s reinstatement outside the presidential office while acting defence minister Yevhenii Khmara assumed the role.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Drapatyi’s appointment would not change the frontline, while drones hit Wildberries warehouses in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, sparking fires.

History

Historical Context

After the 2014 Revolution of Dignity and Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Ukraine overhauled its armed forces, expanding personnel to about 700,000 by 2022 and pursuing NATO-style reforms. The 2026 removal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and his replacement by Mykhailo Drapatyi—who backs Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s modernization drive—continues this pattern of leadership changes aimed at accelerating modernization.

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Story summary

On July 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Zelenskyy offered defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov a deputy-prime-minister post, which Fedorov rejected.
On July 24, protesters demanded Fedorov’s reinstatement outside the presidential office while acting defence minister Yevhenii Khmara assumed the role.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Drapatyi’s appointment would not change the frontline, while drones hit Wildberries warehouses in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, sparking fires.

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