Mykhailo Drapatyi – New Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following widespread street protests and consultations with military leadership, dismissed the former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed 43-year-old General Mykhailo Drapatyi in his place. Drapatyi belongs to a new generation of commanders shaped by Russia's war, and he enjoys respect both in the army and among the public, unlike Syrskyi who had a 59% distrust rating in polls.

Drapatyi had a strained relationship with Syrskyi due to differing approaches: Drapatyi pushed for NATO standards while Syrskyi maintained a Soviet-style army. The appointment is seen as a strong signal that reforms are coming. Drapatyi became Commander of the Land Forces in November 2024, but resigned in summer 2025 after a tragedy at a training ground where a Russian missile killed 12 soldiers and wounded over 60, taking responsibility. After a talk with the president, he remained in service and commanded the Joint Forces.

Protests began in July after Zelensky dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had proposed a strategy based on technology and personnel conservation. Ukrainians demanded Fedorov's reinstatement and army reforms. Drapatyi publicly supported Fedorov, with whom he had successfully cooperated on drone development.

Drapatyi's military career began in 2014 when he commanded a battalion of the 72nd Brigade, gaining fame for leading his unit out of encirclement, saving over 250 soldiers and 30 pieces of equipment. In 2022, he led operations in the Kherson region and near Kharkiv.

The new Defense Minister is Major General Yevhen Khmara, who coordinated UAV projects, but some experts doubt his ability to manage such a large system. Fedorov still refuses other positions and wants to return to the ministry. If protests continue, he may have a chance to regain the post in mid-August when parliament votes on a new minister.