Mykhailo Drapatyi to become new commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in an address on 21 July that Mykhailo Drapatyi will become the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi. The decision comes after six consecutive days of protests in Kyiv and other cities (16–21 July), where demonstrators demanded Syrskyi's dismissal and the reinstatement of Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister.

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Syrskyi delivered results for Ukraine in the defence of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive, and the Kursk operation. However, the president stated that together with Drapatyi, acting Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara, and Deputy Head of the President's Office Pavlo Palisa, the General Staff of the Armed Forces will be reconfigured. Drapatyi and Khmara are also tasked with preparing an updated defence strategy and outlining further steps in reforming the corps system.

As priorities, Zelenskyy identified protecting Ukraine's skies from Russian attacks and developing a realistic vision for the mobilisation process. The president also announced that he had offered Mykhailo Fedorov a leadership position that would combine the country's technological capabilities and ensure their continued development.

Zelenskyy noted that Fedorov and Syrskyi had been unable to find common ground and that problems on the battlefield, within brigades, and with mobilisation remained unresolved. On 20 July, Syrskyi apologised to Fedorov, stating that he had not realised there was a conflict between them.