Zelenskyy sacks Syrskii: How many generals have Ukraine, Russia fired?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially removed military chief Oleksandr Syrskii from his post. This decision follows a period of public unrest in Kyiv sparked by the earlier dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov and Syrskii had been involved in documented clashes regarding internal reform efforts and military management.

Mykhailo Drapatyi now steps into the role of military leader. President Zelenskyy stated that this appointment serves as a necessary reset to improve front-line operations and address ongoing challenges with troop mobilization. The administration aims to sharpen the focus on battlefield goals and maintain pressure on Russian forces.

Leadership changes are common during this four-year conflict. Ukraine has replaced more than 10 generals since the invasion began. Notable previous changes include the removal of Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov in 2023 due to corruption concerns and the 2024 replacement of Valerii Zaluzhnyi with Syrskii.

Russia has also experienced significant military turnover throughout the war. High-profile removals include Vice Admiral Igor Osipov after the loss of the Moskva flagship, Major-General Ivan Popov following his critique of military strategy, and Sergey Surovikin after his connection to the Wagner Group mutiny. Both nations continue to cycle through command structures to adapt to the shifting demands of the conflict.