Syrskyi and Hnatov to stay in service to support new command – Zelenskyy
Former commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and former chief of staff Andrii Hnatov will continue serving in the military and will help pass on their experience to the new command, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, according to public broadcaster Suspilne.
The president said he had held several conversations with Syrskyi and Hnatov.
“We understand everything, so we will make sure that both Oleksandr Stanislavovych and Andrii Hnatov do not rest, but pass on their voices to the new command, stay nearby, help and advise,” Zelenskyy said.
He also outlined the tasks he has given acting Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and newly appointed commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, NV reported.
“The tasks are the same as for Fedorov and Syrskyi. The issue of closing the sky, the issue of the recruitment centers, the issue of giving mobilization a normal face, if that can even be said that way. All this will have to be done together ... Unity is certainly important. The unity of the Defense Ministry and the military leadership of our state, and of our soldiers, is important,” he said.
At the same time, Zelenskyy said there would be a personnel reset in the army.
“I am waiting for proposals from the new commander-in-chief,” he said.
Earlier, after nearly a week of mass protests in Ukraine, Zelenskyy dismissed Syrskyi and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief. Alongside Syrskyi, Andrii Hnatov also left the post of chief of staff and was replaced by Maj. Gen. Ihor Skybiuk.
Zelenskyy offered former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose return has been demanded by protesters, the role of deputy prime minister for military innovation. According to sources cited by Ukrainska Pravda, however, Fedorov had previously refused and said that he and his team at the Defense Ministry could have “immediately joined the joint work” with Drapatyi as commander-in-chief.
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