Syrskyi was one of the country’s top generals when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, and was lauded for overseeing the defence of Kyiv and the liberation of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Yet, after the first winter of war, disillusionment with his old-school leadership grew. He seemed too willing to sacrifice Ukrainian lives to defend positions until the last possible moment, recklessly forgoing strategic retreats, earning him the nickname “the Butcher.”