Ukrainian president weighs removal of army chief amid street protests and soldier dissent — UnionPress

President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly considering dismissing General Oleksandr Syrsky as commander‑in‑chief after weeks of public demonstrations and growing unrest within the ranks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is said to be weighing the dismissal of General Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander‑in‑chief of Ukraine's armed forces, as protests in Kyiv and other cities intensify and discontent spreads among frontline troops.

The pressure on Syrsky has taken an unusual form for a country at war. Citizens have taken to the streets for four consecutive days, chanting for the 35‑year‑old defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov to be reinstated and demanding that Syrsky step down. On Saturday, roughly 10,000 people gathered in the capital, holding placards that read, "Fedorov = more Russian deaths, Syrsky = more Ukrainian deaths."

Public anger is not limited to the capital. Demonstrations have been reported in several regional centres, with participants demanding a shift in the strategic direction of the war. The protests have been sparked by a perceived clash between Fedorov's push for a "drone revolution" and Syrky's reputation as a traditional, high‑risk commander. Analysts note that the two have reportedly stopped speaking directly to each other, a breakdown that contributed to Fedorov's recent resignation as defence minister.

Within the army, the dissent is equally palpable. Social media posts have shown soldiers tearing up awards signed by Syrsky, a symbolic act that underscores a loss of confidence in his leadership. Lieutenant colonel Bohdan Krotevych, a former commander in the defence of Mariupol who survived months of captivity, publicly refused an award, stating, "I do not need an award from someone who does not know what honour and dignity are."

Other rank‑and‑file troops have taken part in the street protests despite regulations that forbid active‑duty soldiers from joining civilian rallies. One soldier recounted being reported to military counter‑intelligence, detained by military police, and threatened with being sent to the notorious "Skala" penal unit, a term used for the most severe disciplinary measures.

According to Serhii Sternenko, an adviser to former defence minister Fedorov, General Syrsky has also tried to force brigade commanders to record videos praising him, while simultaneously cracking down on soldiers who voiced support for the protests. The contradictory approach has only deepened the perception that the commander‑in‑chief is out of touch with the realities faced by his troops.

An odd episode unfolded in the town of Kostiantynivka, where two soldiers from the Skala assault regiment posted a video holding a Ukrainian flag alongside photos of Zelensky and Syrsky, claiming to have liberated a cultural centre. The next day, Russian media released a clip showing the same soldiers with a Russian flag at the same location, prompting speculation that the footage was part of a broader information operation.

The Skala unit later confirmed that the soldiers had been captured, but did not clarify whether the capture occurred before or after the videos were recorded, or whether the footage was authentic. The incident highlights the fog of war that complicates the flow of reliable information, especially when both sides employ propaganda to shape public perception.

Not all senior commanders have turned against Syrsky. On the weekend following the protests, three high‑ranking officers, Air Assault Forces commander Oleh Apostol, navy chief Oleksii Neizhpapa and Territorial Defence Forces head Ihor Plakhuta, issued statements reaffirming their support for the army chief. Their backing reflects a split within the military hierarchy, where some see Syrsky's experience as essential for maintaining operational momentum on the 1,200‑kilometre front.

Nevertheless, a growing chorus of officers and soldiers, as reported by the analytical outlet DeepState UA, argues that Syrsky's tactics place troops in unnecessary danger. The outlet warned that dissent is spreading from the lowest ranks to brigade and corps commanders, but that open criticism remains "suicidal" for those who voice it.

If Zelensky decides to replace Syrsky, the list of possible successors is already being discussed in military circles. Military Land, a defence‑industry publication, identified seven candidates, including General Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of the Joint Forces; General Andrii Hnatov, chief of the general staff; and General Hennadii Shapovalov, commander of the Ground Forces. Each candidate represents a different strategic outlook, ranging from a continued emphasis on conventional artillery to a deeper integration of unmanned systems.

Analyst Tatarigami noted that Syrsky's future role could be pivotal even if he is removed from the top post. He might stay within the armed forces in a different capacity, perhaps as chief of the general staff, while a protégé assumes command. Such a reshuffle could preserve institutional knowledge while signalling a shift in operational priorities.

While the internal debate over military leadership unfolds, Ukraine has continued to expand its strike campaign against Russian economic infrastructure. Over the weekend, Ukrainian drones targeted three warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, in the Moscow, Tambov and Podolsk regions. The attacks resulted in the complete destruction of the facilities and, according to Russian authorities, at least nine fatalities.

Wildberries, often dubbed the "Russian Amazon," sells a wide range of goods, including items that can be used by the Russian military such as drones, bullet‑proof vests and fibre‑optic cables. The company has been on Poland's sanctions list since April 2022 for "indirect support for the war." Ukrainian analyst Anton Herashchenko argued that the warehouses are legitimate military targets because the goods sold there directly contribute to the Russian war effort.

These strikes mirror a broader pattern of reciprocal attacks on civilian infrastructure. Russian forces have repeatedly hit Ukrainian logistics hubs, including Nova Poshta delivery centres, causing significant disruption to civilian supply chains. Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko criticised the double standard, pointing out that Russian attacks on a publishing warehouse containing 250,000 Ukrainian books received no condemnation from those who otherwise decry attacks on Russian civilian sites.

On the aerial front, Ukrainian forces claimed a successful strike on a Russian Tu‑95MS strategic bomber at Engels airbase in Saratov Oblast. Satellite imagery released by open‑source analysts confirmed that the aircraft's tail was destroyed, rendering it unusable except for spare parts. The Tu‑95, a legacy platform used to launch cruise missiles, is a scarce asset for Moscow; Oryx data shows that 11 of these bombers have been destroyed or damaged since the war began.

Maritime operations have also intensified. Ukrainian unmanned systems forces reported that, since 6 July, they have hit 176 Russian vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, including five ferries that shuttled fuel between Russia and occupied Crimea, cutting that route's capacity by roughly three‑quarters.

One of the most striking videos to emerge shows a Ukrainian naval drone attacking a Russian tanker, the Avero, in the Sea of Azov. While the SBU security service confirmed a strike on a tanker on 19 July, it did not specify whether the vessel in the video was the same. The incident marks the fourth tanker hit in a ten‑day period, underscoring the growing effectiveness of Ukraine's maritime drone programme.

Russia, in turn, has continued to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea. A grain‑carrying vessel flagged to Guinea‑Bissau and owned by a Turkish company was struck near Odesa, killing ten crew members. The attack, allegedly carried out with a Kh‑59/Kh‑69 missile, is the third civilian ship hit in the region in two days, a retaliation for Ukraine's strikes on Russia's "shadow fleet."

According to the Oryx open‑source database, which tracks equipment losses through photographic evidence, Russia's heavy‑equipment losses as of Monday totalled 23,888 pieces, of which 18,866 were destroyed. This includes 4,430 tanks, 3,332 of them destroyed in combat. Ukraine's losses stand at 11,781 pieces, with 1,450 tanks lost, 1,111 of them destroyed in combat.

Both sides continue to withhold reliable casualty figures, making independent verification difficult. Nevertheless, the equipment tallies illustrate the intensity of the fighting and the high price paid by both militaries.

The possible removal of General Syrsky carries implications far beyond Kyiv's streets. For European partners, a change in Ukraine's top military leadership could affect the coordination of Western arms deliveries, especially those involving advanced drone technology championed by Defence Minister Fedorov.

European Union states have pledged billions of euros in military aid, much of it earmarked for modernising Ukraine's armed forces. A commander who embraces a drone‑centric doctrine could accelerate the integration of Western‑supplied unmanned systems, potentially improving the efficiency of strikes on Russian logistics and reducing civilian casualties.

Conversely, a sudden leadership change risks destabilising the command structure at a time when the front line remains fluid. NATO officials have repeatedly warned that any internal turmoil could be exploited by Moscow to regain the initiative. The balance between maintaining operational continuity and responding to popular demand for change is delicate.

From a workers' perspective, the unrest highlights the human cost of strategic decisions. Soldiers who feel their lives are being risked unnecessarily are more likely to resist orders, which could erode morale and undermine the effectiveness of the Ukrainian defence. The protests also reflect a broader societal fatigue with a war that has already claimed over 600,000 lives across Europe, according to UN estimates.

For European citizens, the targeting of Russian commercial facilities such as Wildberries raises questions about the legality and morality of economic warfare. While the EU has sanctioned many Russian entities, the line between legitimate military targets and civilian commercial assets remains contested. The attacks could set precedents for future conflicts, influencing how European states think about sanction enforcement and the use of force against private corporations.

Finally, the information war surrounding the Kostiantynivka videos underscores the importance of media literacy in Europe. As both sides deploy sophisticated propaganda, European audiences must navigate a flood of disinformation, a task that requires robust public‑service broadcasting and independent journalism.

In the coming days, President Zelensky's decision on General Syrsky will be closely watched by Kyiv's streets, the Ukrainian armed forces, and European capitals alike. Whether the move will stabilise the military hierarchy, appease a restless public, or create new challenges remains to be seen.