FT and Meduza: Zelensky weighs firing top general Oleksandr Syrsky amid protests over ousted defense minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering dismissing General Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces. Meduza confirms the reporting, citing sources close to the president's office. The move comes after mass protests erupted when Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was fired—a decision Fedorov says Syrsky pushed for. Zelensky is convening military commanders this weekend to assess the front-line situation and audition potential replacements. He would remove Syrsky only if he finds someone capable of managing the transition without weakening Ukraine's defenses. A Defense Ministry official told Meduza that Syrsky's core problem is lacking any convincing vision of how Ukraine can actually win. 'His theory of victory is just holding out as long as possible and mobilizing more people,' the official said. Sources close to Zelensky assess that Syrsky's dismissal is 'quite likely' if protests persist.

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