Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi to lead the country’s armed forces in a major restructuring of Ukraine’s military leadership.

The leadership change follows nearly a week of protests in Kyiv, where demonstrators voiced opposition to the government’s dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had reportedly been at odds with Syrskyi over the conduct of the war.

Announcing the decision on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said the appointment of Drapatyi was intended to “reset” Ukraine’s defense effort as the country continues to battle Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to every one of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on social media.

He also expressed confidence in his new military commander, saying he appreciated Drapatyi’s commitment to achieving Ukraine’s military objectives.

“Our shared wish is one—victory over the enemy and conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would force Russia toward peace,” the president said.

Zelenskyy acknowledged the need to address ongoing tensions within the military leadership and improve coordination across the armed forces.

He said the changes are aimed at resolving longstanding challenges involving military mobilization, front-line management and overall command effectiveness.

The reshuffle marks one of the most significant changes to Ukraine’s military leadership since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and comes at a critical stage of the conflict as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its battlefield performance and maintain public confidence in its wartime leadership.