By Abida Kahlun
Bureau Chief Helsinki
Snn News Finland
HELSINKI Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed two of the country’s top Military Command , replacing them with new appointees in a major shake-up of the armed forces’ leadership.
Commander-in-Chief and Chief of General Staff Both Replaced
President Zelensky removed General Oleksandr Syrskyi as Military Command -in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, appointing General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his successor.
In a parallel move, Zelensky also dismissed Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, replacing him with Military Command Major General Ihor Skybiuk, who had served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff since June 2025.
New Appointee’s Background
Skybiuk, born in 1977 and a recipient of the Hero of Ukraine honor, previously Military Command Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces and led the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade before his elevation to the top post.
Reshuffle Follows Days of Protests
The leadership changes come less than a week after Zelensky dismissed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a decision that triggered mass street demonstrations in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Public pressure continued to mount on the president in the following days, with demonstrators calling for further accountability within the country’s military and defence leadership.
Zelensky Confirms Handover on Telegram
Announcing the changes via Telegram, Zelensky said Syrskyi and Hnatov had been briefed on “future service arrangements and the proper handover of responsibilities,” though no further details on their next roles were disclosed.
Shake-Up Comes Amid War Pressures
The Military Command overhaul unfolds as Ukraine continues to face battlefield pressure from Russia’s ongoing invasion, alongside growing domestic frustration over the war’s management.
The full scope of the reshuffle’s impact on Ukraine’s military strategy and morale remains to be seen in the coming weeks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces military command reshuffle
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