Zelensky sacks Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky

Zelensky has yet to name a replacement.

By Ben Whedon

Published: July 21, 2026 3:50pm

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday removed Oleksandr Syrsky as commander in chief of Ukraine's military, marking the second sacking of his top military leader of the war.

The Kyiv Post reported Syrsky's firing. Zelensky has yet to name a replacement.

Syrsky replaced Valery Zaluzhzhny in 2024. His tenure saw a number of pivotal battles go against Ukraine, including the fall of Pokrovsk, most of Konstantinovka, and several other settlements in the Donbas region.

The move appears to be part of a major shake up of Ukrainian leadership and follows the removal of both the prime minister and defense minister earlier this month.

Ukrainians turned out to protest the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov earlier this month.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.