Zelensky fires top general after protests across Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday dismissed Ukraine's top military commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi following protests across the country calling for his removal and the reinstatement of the Mykhailo Fedorov, the popular ex- defense minister.

Fedorov in recent days had been offered a senior government role but has not accepted, local media reported. It remains unclear whether he will return to Zelensky's government.

Protesters in Ukraine had given Ukraine's president until Friday to reinstate as defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who is said to have rejected the president's offer of another government post.

Fedorov had been offered a senior role within Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council and a mandate to oversee defense innovation and military reform, reported the Financial Times newspaper citing unnamed Ukrainian officials. The post would have allowed him to oversee defense technology programs, scale production of long-range weapons, and push reforms outside the defense ministry and military command.

However, Fedorov declined the offer because he wanted to be restored as defense minister, the newspaper reported.