Drapatyi on his appointment as commander-in-chief: I will work with respect for people
Mykhailo Drapatyi, appointed as Ukraine's new commander-in-chief on July 21, said he will work responsibly and with respect for those defending the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on July 21, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi. In a Facebook post, Drapatyi thanked the president for his trust and the defense minister for support, emphasizing that serving Ukraine is an honor and, during wartime, means absolute responsibility. He promised to work with focus and respect for the people defending the state.
The appointment followed six days of protests in Kyiv and other cities from July 16 to 20, demanding the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and the dismissal of commander-in-chief Syrskyi. Zelensky acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi could not find common ground and that battlefield problems, including issues with brigades and mobilization, remained unresolved. On July 18, the president said he had spoken with both and promised decisions regarding the army. On July 20, Syrskyi apologized to Fedorov, claiming he was unaware of the conflict. After the wave of protests, Zelensky announced Syrskyi's dismissal and Drapatyi's appointment on July 21.
Drapatyi is a seasoned commander. In 2014, he participated in the liberation of occupied Mariupol. In March 2022, he led the defense of Kryvyi Rih, stabilizing the front line. Later, he commanded the operational group "Kherson," liberating the right bank of the Kherson region. In February 2024, he became deputy chief of the General Staff; in May, commander of the tactical group "Kharkiv"; and in November 2024, commander of the Land Forces. On June 1, 2025, a Russian missile strike on a Land Forces training unit killed at least 12 and wounded over 60. Drapatyi resigned after the incident but remained in post after a conversation with Zelensky. On June 3, 2025, the president appointed him commander of the Joint Forces. In October 2025, a new Joint Forces Group was created under Drapatyi, but this significantly reduced his scope of influence.
