General Syrskyi speaks out after dismissal

“And most importantly – the state in which I am handing over the battlefield. This year, under my command, 700 square kilometres of our land were liberated. An army that just two years ago was engaged in a heavy defensive struggle is today conducting offensive operations. I am handing over to my successor an army that not only maintains its defence but is also on the offensive – with initiative, structure, and people who know how to strike the enemy. I sincerely believe that this offensive will continue”, Syrskyi’s Facebook post reads.

He also pointed out that during his tenure, an offensive was carried out in the Kursk Oblast on Russian territory. “We also conducted the Kursk operation – for the first time in this war, we moved combat operations to the enemy’s territory. I want this to be stated clearly: our goal was never the occupation of someone else’s land. Our goal was to thwart the enemy’s planned offensive against Sumy and Kharkiv, to divert the opponent’s most combat-ready units, and to increase the number of prisoners for exchange, in order to bring our people home from captivity. All these goals were achieved.”

“We continue to contain the enemy’s offensive in key directions and conduct offensive operations on selected sections of the front. Some of the operations we have carried out in recent years cannot be discussed even today. History will tell their story”, he concluded.

General Mykhailo Drapatyi has been named as General Syrskyi’s successor. This change is President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s response to protests that have been ongoing for several days. Dissatisfied Ukrainians opposed the dismissal of Defence Minister Fedorov and demanded Syrskyi’s resignation. On Sunday, a further demand crystallised, calling for the appointment of General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Meeting the protesters’ demands was a sound decision. Prolonged social unrest placed Kyiv in a poor light in the eyes of Western partners. Furthermore, Ukraine remains at war and cannot afford to expend resources on suppressing protests.