Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced the replacement of Kiev’s military commander, General Oleksandr Shirschiy, after days of widespread protests over the firing of the popular defense minister. The dismissal of the defense minister revealed an unprecedented public division within the military over strategy for the war against Russia.
President Zelenskiy announced on Tuesday evening that Mykhailo Drapati, commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine, will become Ukraine’s new supreme commander.
Meanwhile, President Zelenskiy offered Mykhailo Fedorov, whose dismissal as Minister of Defense caused this political storm, “an important position in the government that will allow us to unify the technological elements of our country and ensure the development of the state.”
Fedorov, 35, has established a reputation as a pioneer of innovative approaches to technology and recruitment, but has clashed with other members of Ukraine’s defense establishment.
His six-month tenure as defense minister coincided with recent battlefield successes in Ukraine, and his dismissal amid disagreements with Shirschiky sparked a backlash against military commanders.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
