The Ukraine army chief row has intensified as protesters back a deadline for President Volodymyr Zelensky to replace commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and restore former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov to a top role. Army veteran Dmytro Koziatynsky said on social media that if Syrskyi is not dismissed and Fedorov is not nominated for the defence post by Friday, July 24, supporters will launch an open-ended nationwide protest.
No demonstrations are currently scheduled before then, but the political and military debate has left Ukraine waiting for a decision. Over the weekend, reports swirled about meetings between Zelensky, ministers and generals as officials tried to calm the dispute. The General Staff denied claims that Gen Syrskyi had been sacked or was about to be removed, while another report said Fedorov had turned down an offer to return in a different government role.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the president’s office, urged the public to stay calm and said the government was listening to the anger on the streets. In remarks posted Tuesday, he said the situation had triggered strong feelings and that public opinion had been heard. He also warned Ukrainians not to turn the dispute into internal conflict, saying Russia was watching for division inside the country.
Syrskyi, who is usually quiet in public, responded on Monday with a lengthy defense of his record. Writing for the Militarny website, he said he had seen his relationship with Fedorov as a working one and apologized if he had offended him. He argued that public debate over military contracts, procurement and mobilization was far more complicated than slogans on protest signs, and said real work, not public drama, wins wars.
