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Russia-Ukraine War

Analysis: Why many Ukrainians feel Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi must go
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Analysis: Why many Ukrainians feel Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi must go

by Francis Farrell

"Fedorov = more Russian deaths, Syrskyi = more Ukrainian deaths." This slogan, neatly written on cardboard, was one of thousands held aloft in Kyiv and across Ukraine as outrage over the country's wartime leadership boils over. Much of Ukrainian society, soldiers and civilians alike, is up in arms over President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss popular and innovative Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelensky's primary motivation for the decision was debated, with theories including

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Protesters give Zelensky until Friday as he weighs Syrskyi's dismissal; decision expected soon

Another protest over President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov while keeping Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi in office is scheduled to take place in Kyiv on July 20. One of the protest's organizers, veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi, told the Kyiv Independent the movement now has two clear demands: reinstating Fedorov as defense minister and removing Syrskyi as commander-in-chief. A decision on Syrskyi's dismissal is expected soon, possibly within days

About War

The Kyiv Independent's coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, after eight years of aggression against Ukraine that began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and fighting in Donbas. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of military and civilian casualties and displaced millions of Ukrainians. NATO and Western allies have provided military aid to Ukraine while the conflict continues across fronts in Ukraine’s south and east.

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