Protesters in Ukraine have issued a deadline of Friday, July 24, for President Volodymyr Zelensky to dismiss Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and reinstate former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The demand follows President Zelensky's decision last week to remove Fedorov from his post, a move that has sparked daily demonstrations in Kyiv and other cities. Army veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi stated on social media that a "nationwide protest" would begin if the demands are not met.
In response to the public pressure, General Syrskyi published an op-ed on the Militarny website defending his record. He addressed criticisms regarding his alleged resistance to modern technology, noting that he oversaw the creation of a separate unmanned systems force. Syrskyi characterized his relationship with Fedorov as professional and dismissed reports of a personal rivalry, while cautioning that military decisions should not be driven by "public drama" or "slogans."
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Presidential Office, urged the public to remain calm, stating that the government has heard the position of society. While the general staff denied reports that Syrskyi has already been dismissed, speculation remains regarding potential successors. Reported candidates for the leadership role include younger officers such as Mykhailo Drapatyi, Andriy Bilekskyi, Oleh Apostol, and Ihor Obolenskyi.