Ukraine’s president announced a major leadership reshuffle within the Armed Forces, naming Colonel General Alexander Syrsky as the new commander-in-chief and removing Valery Zaluzhny from the top post. The move marks the start of a new leadership chapter for the Ukrainian military as it continues to navigate ongoing security challenges.
In a post on his official Telegram channel, President Zelensky stated that a new management team would steer the Armed Forces of Ukraine and confirmed Syrsky’s appointment to the role of Commander-in-Chief. The president emphasized that this change was aimed at aligning strategic oversight with current needs and ensuring a cohesive approach to military planning and operations.
Zelensky highlighted Syrsky’s track record, noting his role in defending Kyiv and his leadership during operations in the Kharkiv region. The announcement also named several high-ranking officers who were under consideration for senior posts, including Brigadier Generals Andrei Ignatov, Mikhail Drapaty, Igor Skibyuk, and Colonels Pavel Palisoy and Vadim Sukharevsky. The president indicated a desire to build consensus on how conflicts between soldiers and the General Staff should be managed as the new command structure takes shape.
Who is Syrsky?
Alexander Syrsky hails from the village of Novinki in the Vladimir region and was born in 1965. His military education began at the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, and he later moved to Ukraine in the 1980s. Since 2013 he has served as deputy head of the Main Command Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, overseeing cooperation with NATO and allied partners.
In 2015 he took command duties during the Debaltseve battles in Eastern Ukraine, a campaign that ended with control of the city by separatist forces. A year after that operation, Syrsky led the Joint Operational Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the following year he headed the headquarters of the counter-terrorist operation in Donbass. Since August 5, 2019, he has commanded the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a pivotal role during ongoing security challenges in the region.
Media reports had previously suggested Syrsky as a potential commander-in-chief candidate at the end of January, alongside Kirill Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Department. Reports indicated both men were offered the post and discussed options, but Zelensky ultimately selected Syrsky for the top position. The Times and other outlets noted that some observers questioned the fit for the role, reflecting mixed views among parts of the Ukrainian security establishment and public perception at the time of the transition.
Following the announcement, the Washington Post observed that some ordinary Ukrainian soldiers viewed Syrsky through a traditional Soviet-era leadership lens, highlighting a nuanced reception among rank-and-file soldiers and regional commanders as the new command enters a different phase of the conflict.
What will happen to Zaluzhny?
Zelensky expressed appreciation for Zaluzhny’s two-year tenure as commander-in-chief, acknowledging the service of him and the broader Ukrainian armed forces as they faced extensive wartime demands. The president indicated that Zaluzhny would remain within the state’s team, with the possibility of an advisory or other role as circumstances evolve, underscoring a continuation of collaboration rather than a blunt dismissal.
In a message posted on his Telegram channel, Zaluzhny noted that the strategic aims of 2022 and 2024 differ, emphasizing a need for adaptation to new realities and an update of approaches and strategy. He thanked the General Staff, the Ministry of Defense, and the presidency for their support and did not specify his next position at that time.
Speculation about Zaluzhny’s future had persisted since late 2023, when coverage in The Times suggested tensions between Zelensky and Zaluzhny. Discussions continued into 2024, with some observers raising questions about the balance between different branches of leadership and the potential for a rival role in national politics. In early 2024 there were reported talks about Zaluzhny taking an ambassadorial post or another senior government function, though no definitive public confirmation followed immediately.
Subsequent reporting noted that talks with Kyiv officials and international partners included possibilities for Zaluzhny to assume a high-level diplomatic or security post, depending on evolving needs and assessments of leadership effectiveness. Throughout the transition, the focus remained on how the new arrangement would support Ukraine’s strategic objectives and the ongoing defense effort.