Security · July 2026

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 21, 2026, dismissed top military commander General Oleksandr Syrsky after days of protests, appointing General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief. The protests followed the dismissal of a rival minister, and military reports cited fuel supply problems. The move marks the biggest military shake-up since the war began. Romania reported a ship heading to Ukraine was struck off its coast, and a gas tanker bound for Ukraine was attacked in the Black Sea outside Romanian waters. Russia commented on sending troops to Kyiv amid ongoing attacks, and vowed more strikes on ships carrying weapons to Ukraine. The UN reported a jump in Ukraine's civilian toll driven by drone attacks, and the first half of 2026 saw a sharp rise in civilian casualties.