The Financial Times reports that at least seven senior Ukrainian army commanders are candidates to replace Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrsky, whom President Zelenskyy is reportedly considering dismissing. Zelenskyy has already spoken with the candidates, including the commanders named in the report.
The Financial Times reported Monday evening that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken with at least seven senior commanders as candidates to replace army chief Oleksandr Syrsky, whom he is reportedly considering dismissing. The named candidates include: Mykhailo Drapatyi (commander of joint forces), Oleh Apostol (commander of airborne assault forces), Volodymyr Horvatiuk (deputy chief of staff), Ihor Obolenskyi (commander of the 'Khartia' 2nd Corps of the National Guard), Andriy Biletskyi (commander of the Azov 3rd Army Corps), Viktor Nikoliuk (commander of Eastern Operational Command), and Denys Prokopenko (commander of the 'Azov' 1st Corps of the National Guard). The report marks a concrete step beyond the weekend consultations, which The Zioneer covered on Saturday at 15:22 Jerusalem, when the Financial Times first reported that Zelenskyy was holding consultations and considering dismissing Syrsky.
Earlier today (Monday 15:12 Jerusalem), unofficial reports circulated claiming that Syrsky had already been dismissed — a claim that remains unconfirmed. The new FT report does not confirm a dismissal, but indicates that the process of selecting a replacement is underway. The Saturday report also included a claim by dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov that Syrsky had issued an ultimatum demanding his dismissal, adding a layer of tension to the leadership crisis.
The crisis unfolded over the past week, as The Zioneer reported: Fedorov was dismissed on Thursday, prompting protests and criticism of Syrsky. On Friday, reports said Syrsky faced mounting criticism for opposing Fedorov's tenure. Over the weekend, protests intensified, as reported on Sunday at 00:52 Jerusalem. The potential replacement of the army chief would represent a major shift in Ukraine's military leadership amid the ongoing war with Russia.
What remains open: Syrsky's dismissal has not been officially confirmed by Ukrainian authorities. The unofficial reports from earlier today have not been corroborated by official sources. The FT report is based on unnamed sources, and it is unclear when or if a final decision will be announced.
4 developments
- StrongUnofficial reports say Ukrainian army chief Syrsky dismissed
- DevelopingZelenskyy reportedly considers reappointing Fedorov as defense minister day after dismissal
- StrongCriticism mounts in Ukraine against army chief Syrsky over opposition to Fedorov's tenure — reports
- DevelopingProtests against Ukraine's army chief Syrsky escalate as dismissed defense minister speaks out
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake