Zelenskyy Faces Calls to Reinstate Ousted Defense Chief

WHO:

The Guardian - Dmytro Koziatynsky announced a rally to be held on Friday evening outside Zelenskyy’s presidential office in Ivana Franka Square, Kyiv.

The Guardian - Major General Ihor Skybiuk has been appointed to replace Andrii Hnatov as the head of the general staff.

The Guardian - Mykhailo Fedorov has emerged as one of Ukraine’s most influential wartime reformers with significant public support.

The Guardian - Oleksandr Syrskyi, the ousted commander-in-chief, defended his record, stating he had created a separate drone branch of the armed forces, the first of its kind in the world.

The Guardian - Dmytro Koziatynsky announced a rally to be held on Friday evening outside Zelenskyy’s presidential office in Ivana Franka Square, Kyiv.

The Guardian - Major General Ihor Skybiuk has been appointed to replace Andrii Hnatov as the head of the general staff.

The Guardian - Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Fedorov, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Mykhailo Drapatyi, Yevhenii Khmara, Dmytro Koziatynsky, Petro Poroshenko

Al Jazeera - Oleksandr Syrskii, Mykhailo Fedorov, Mykhailo Drapatyi

WHAT:

The Guardian - Fedorov stated, “We should not forget about the second demand of the protest – to return Mykhailo Fedorov to the position of minister of defence.”

The Guardian - Zelenskyy held a meeting with his top generals, after which Drapatyi wrote on Facebook that he had been given instructions to “intensify offensive operations in all domains.”

The Guardian - Fedorov has rejected the offer to take on the role of deputy prime minister for technological development, insisting on reinstatement as defense minister instead.

The Guardian - Protests are set to continue indefinitely until Fedorov is reinstated as defense minister.

The Guardian - Fedorov stated, “We must do everything possible to ensure that the government hears and satisfies all the demands of society.”

The Guardian - Ukrainian drones targeted warehouses belonging to the Russian online retailer Wildberries, causing large fires in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk.

The Guardian - Mykhailo Fedorov has reportedly turned down the post of deputy prime minister for technological development, insisting on reinstatement as defense minister instead.

The Guardian - Ukrainian drones targeted warehouses belonging to the Russian online retailer Wildberries, causing large fires in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk.

The Guardian - Zelenskyy fired Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the armed forces.

The Guardian - Mykhailo Fedorov was ousted as defense minister after six months in the role.

The Guardian - Protests are ongoing, with campaigners demanding the reinstatement of Fedorov.

The Guardian - Fedorov turned down the post of deputy prime minister for technological development.

The Guardian - Zelenskyy appointed Yevhenii Khmara as acting minister of defense.

Al Jazeera - Zelenskyy emphasized the need to address friction within military leadership and resolve issues concerning mobilization and front-line management.

WHERE:

The Guardian - Protests are taking place outside Zelenskyy’s presidential office in Ivana Franka Square, Kyiv.

The Guardian - Ukrainian drones targeted warehouses in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, Russia.

WHEN:

The Guardian - Protests began after the ouster of Fedorov, which occurred last week.

The Guardian - A rally is planned for Friday evening.

WHY:

The Guardian - The crisis in Ukraine’s military leadership was triggered by a generational conflict between Fedorov, a 35-year-old tech-savvy moderniser, and Syrskyi, a 60-year-old Soviet-trained traditionalist.

The Guardian - The protests were triggered by the removal of Fedorov, who had clashed with Syrskyi and was seen as pivotal to the war effort.

The Guardian - Fedorov argues that reinstatement is necessary to implement his plan for modernizing Ukraine’s army.

HOW:

The Guardian - Drapatyi’s appointment marked a sharp generational and philosophical break from Syrskyi, who was shaped by Soviet military tradition.

ABC News - Mykhailo Drapatyi's appointment as head of the armed forces represents a generational and philosophical shift from the Soviet military tradition embodied by Syrskyi.

ABC News - Drapatyi's appointment marked a sharp generational and philosophical break from Syrskyi, who was shaped by Soviet military tradition.

The Guardian - Mykhailo Drapatyi has been instructed to "intensify offensive operations in all domains," plan operations behind enemy lines, develop new technologies, and build up military capabilities.

The Guardian - Zelenskyy’s reshuffle is part of an effort to defuse public anger and improve military leadership.

The Guardian - Drapatyi was instructed to intensify offensive operations and develop new technologies for the military.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 22:20 UTC)

Dmytro Koziatynsky has announced a rally set for Friday evening outside President Zelenskyy’s office in Ivana Franka Square, Kyiv, where protesters are demanding the return of Mykhailo Fedorov to the position of minister of defense. Following a meeting with his top generals, President Zelenskyy instructed his forces to intensify offensive operations across all domains, as Major General Ihor Skybiuk has been appointed to replace Andrii Hnatov as the head of the general staff. This shift in leadership reflects a significant generational and philosophical break from the traditional Soviet military approach, as seen in the ongoing conflict between the modernizing Fedorov and the older, Soviet-trained Syrskyi.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 18:21 UTC)

Mykhailo Fedorov has become a key figure in Ukraine's wartime reforms, enjoying strong public support as he rejects the role of deputy prime minister for technological development, insisting instead on being reinstated as defense minister. Protests are expected to continue indefinitely until Fedorov's demands are met, while the ousted commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi defends his record, highlighting his establishment of a unique drone branch within the armed forces. In a notable shift away from Soviet military traditions, Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed as the new head of the armed forces, signaling a generational and philosophical change.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 17:24 UTC)

A rally is set to take place outside President Zelenskyy's office in Ivana Franka Square, Kyiv, on Friday evening, as announced by Dmytro Koziatynsky. In military news, Major General Ihor Skybiuk has been appointed to lead the general staff, replacing Andrii Hnatov, marking a significant shift in leadership style and philosophy. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones have targeted warehouses of the Russian online retailer Wildberries, resulting in large fires in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, as officials emphasize the need for the government to address societal demands.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 12:24 UTC)

Major General Ihor Skybiuk has been appointed as the new head of the general staff, taking over from Andrii Hnatov. In a surprising move, Mykhailo Fedorov has turned down the role of deputy prime minister for technological development, insisting instead on being reinstated as defense minister. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones have targeted warehouses of the Russian online retailer Wildberries, resulting in significant fires in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk, as Mykhailo Drapatyi has been directed to intensify offensive operations across all domains.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 01:29 UTC)

President Zelenskyy has made significant changes in Ukraine's military leadership, firing commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the armed forces, while also ousting Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister. Protests are currently taking place outside Zelenskyy's presidential office in Kyiv, with campaigners demanding Fedorov's reinstatement, as he was seen as crucial to the war effort and had clashed with Syrskyi. In response to the public outcry, Zelenskyy appointed Yevhenii Khmara as acting defense minister and emphasized the need to resolve issues within military leadership, with a rally planned for Friday evening.