Bloomberg: Drapatyi leads shortlist for Ukraine commander-in-chief role

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is weighing the possible dismissal of the country’s top military commander, according to people familiar with the matter, as political pressure mounts following nationwide protests.

According to a Bloomberg report, Zelenskyy has begun assessing potential successors to General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces. The discussions are ongoing and confidential, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

One of the people indicated that Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, who currently leads Ukraine’s Joint Forces, is a leading candidate and could replace Syrskyi within days. However, another source cautioned that no final decision has been made, noting that a shortlist of 11 candidates remains under consideration.

Zelenskyy’s aide, Dmytro Lytvyn, declined to comment directly on the reports but told journalists that Syrskyi was unlikely to be dismissed in the coming days. Ukraine’s General Staff also said in a Facebook statement that Syrskyi remains in his post and continues to perform his duties.

The president confirmed that he met Drapatyi on Monday in a post on X, though he made no reference to any leadership changes. The meeting is part of a broader series of consultations between Zelenskyy and senior military officials following protests triggered by his recent dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Kyiv and other major cities to oppose Fedorov’s removal. The former defence minister told reporters he had advocated for Syrskyi’s dismissal, accusing him of obstructing military reforms, but said Zelenskyy ultimately backed the army chief.

The Financial Times earlier reported that Zelenskyy was considering removing Syrskyi, underscoring growing scrutiny of Ukraine’s military leadership amid wartime challenges.

Separately, presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov said public sentiment had been acknowledged and urged calm. He did not provide further details.

Syrskyi, appointed commander-in-chief in early 2024, succeeded General Valerii Zaluzhnyi after tensions emerged between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy. Syrskyi previously earned recognition for his role in Ukraine’s successful defence of Kyiv during the early phase of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, as well as for leading counteroffensive operations that recaptured large parts of the Kharkiv region later that year.

By Tamilla Hasanova