Ukrainians Protestors Demand Army Chief's Replacement

EPA

Protesters in Kyiv called for the dismissal of Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky.

Protesters in Kyiv called for the dismissal of Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's removal of a popular defence minister sparked outrage and demands for a more modern approach to warfare.

Several thousand people gathered outside the presidential office for a second ‌day after Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech wizard who has been partly credited with Ukraine's recent successes in the war with Russia, was not reappointed in a surprise government reshuffle.

Zelenskiy provided little explanation for the reshuffle and said he had to step in since the rift between Syrskyi and Fedorov was so deep ⁠they won't sit at one table.

On Friday, he tapped Ukraine's former top cop, Ihor Klymenko, to lead the national security and defence council, replacing current Chairman Rustem Umerov.

Klymenko, who had initially been among the names as a likely Fedorov replacement, would be tasked with coordinating "all components of the security and defence sector", including defence production, president added.

A top security operative overseeing Ukraine's long-range strikes against Russia, Yevhenii Khmara, was appointed as acting defence minister as Zelenskiy moved to calm down public outrage late on Thursday.

Protesters rallied for a second day outside Zelenskiy's office, chanting "Syrskyi away" and "Bring Fedorov back". Many called to listen to the voices of those currently fighting.

Fedorov's conflict with Syrskyi came into the open on Thursday after the former defence minister accused the 60-year-old general of sabotaging his work.

Syrskyi, 60, played a key role in Kyiv's defence in the early days of the war and has been in his top post since early 2024. But he has faced harsh criticism for a rigid command style which ‌some service ⁠members have said results in high troop losses and also for unwillingness to modernise combat.

The protests resembled popular rallies ⁠last year at the same location over Zelenskiy's attempts to roll back the powers of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies. He ultimately backtracked on those measures.

On Friday, Zelenskiy held online consultations with military commanders. He also met Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, who commands Ukraine's Third Army Corps, to discuss the battlefield situation and defence plans.

Zelenskiy recently appointed Serhii Beskrestnov, a former advisor to defence ministry, presidential advisor on defence technology.

Kyiv's latest political crisis erupted as Ukrainian forces have begun clawing back the initiative from Russia on the battlefield through long-range strikes on industry and logistics.

Ukraine still faces deep problems in troop recruitment as Russian forces grind forward, as well as in securing enough air defences to ⁠repel deadly missile attacks on its cities. Many Ukrainians believe that victory could only be achieved with technological advances and an army system that drops the worst practices from the Soviet Union times - a task, they say, impossible to complete under Syrskyi.

Sources: Reuters



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