Zelensky Fires Army Chief Amid Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the country's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrsky, on Tuesday, replacing him with Major General Mykhailo Drapaty. The decision came after days of protests in Kyiv and other cities, where demonstrators called for Syrsky's removal. The protests had erupted following Zelensky's earlier dismissal of Defence Minister Fedorov, a popular figure. Protesters saw Syrsky as closely associated with Fedorov and demanded his ouster. Syrsky, 60, had served as commander-in-chief since 2024 and was a key figure in Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. Drapaty, the new army chief, previously headed the joint forces command. The change marks a significant shift in Ukraine's military leadership during the ongoing war.