Ukraine's commander in chief Oleksandr Syrskyi is widely expected to lose his job after five days of protests outside the presidential office in Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff hinting at a reshuffle of the army's top leadership.
Key facts
- Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine's commander in chief, is widely expected to lose his job.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff hinted the government may sack Syrskyi.
- Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv over five days.
- Protesters chanted 'Syrskyi out' and waved cheese graters as a pun on his name.
- Zelenskyy is reported to have bowed to pressure and plans to reshuffle the army's top leadership.
Ukraine’s commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, is widely expected to lose his job amid signs that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has bowed to pressure from protesters and will reshuffle the army’s top leadership, according to the Guardian.
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff has hinted that the government may be about to sack Syrskyi, the report said, adding to expectations of a change at the top of Ukraine’s military command.
The signals follow five days of demonstrations. Over that period, thousands of protesters gathered outside the presidential office in Kyiv, chanting ‘Syrskyi out’.
Some demonstrators waved cheese graters during the protests. The gesture was a pun on the commander’s name, which sounds like the word for cheese in Ukrainian.
The Guardian reported that the sustained pressure from demonstrators appears to have influenced the president’s apparent decision to overhaul the army’s senior leadership.
Further details on any formal decision, a timeline for a reshuffle, or a potential successor were not provided in the reporting available.
Why it matters
The leadership of Ukraine's military is a central issue for the country during wartime, and any change at the top could affect strategy and public confidence. The protests also show how public pressure can shape decisions at the highest levels of Ukraine's government.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Oleksandr Syrskyi?
Oleksandr Syrskyi is Ukraine's commander in chief, the country's top military leader, who according to the Guardian is widely expected to lose his job.
Why were people protesting in Kyiv?
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the presidential office over five days chanting 'Syrskyi out,' with some waving cheese graters as a pun on the commander's name, which sounds like the word for cheese in Ukrainian.
Has Syrskyi been officially removed?
The reporting says he is widely expected to lose his job and that Zelenskyy's chief of staff hinted at a possible sacking and reshuffle, but no formal decision was confirmed in the available sources.