This was reported by The Financial Times, citing a high-ranking official in the Ukrainian administration. According to him, Zelensky will meet with military officials in the coming days to hear their assessments of the situation on the battlefield and to consider candidates for the position of Commander-in-Chief. The source claims that the president is ready to dismiss Syrskiy if he finds a military leader capable of ensuring a smooth transfer of authority while maintaining a stable defense along the 1,200-kilometer front line. Zelensky began to contemplate replacing Syrskiy after mass protests erupted over the dismissal of 35-year-old Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had only been in office for six months but demonstrated high effectiveness. Fedorov himself stated that his resignation was demanded by Syrskiy, who presented the president with an "ultimatum." Zelensky previously acknowledged that the relationship between the minister and the commander had completely deteriorated, and they had stopped communicating directly, while he was unable to "restore unity." Fedorov publicly accused Syrskiy of blocking reforms in the Ministry of Defense and stated that Ukraine needs to change its top military leadership, including the Chief of the General Staff, to adapt to the changed nature of the war. He emphasized that the future belongs to drones and automation, while Syrskiy adheres to a traditional model of warfare based on the use of infantry and artillery. "Ukrainians do not need someone from above with a baton pushing them to the front line for 10-15 days under drones... They need respect. They need normal contracts, terms of service, the possibility of transfer, and normal leaders," Fedorov said. Syrskiy, nicknamed "The Butcher" due to his willingness to incur heavy losses to achieve military objectives, took over as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in February 2024, replacing Valerii Zaluzhnyi. At the end of last week, veterans and active servicemen joined protests over Fedorov's dismissal, demanding Syrskiy's resignation, which marked a rare display of public discontent from military representatives, FT notes. Later, the protests significantly expanded: thousands of people gathered in Ivan Franko Square near the presidential office in Kyiv, as well as in major cities including Lviv and Odesa, reports The Moscow Times.