President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed 43-year-old Major General Mykhailo Drapaty as Ukraine's new Commander-in-Chief, replacing General Oleksandr Syrskyi. This followed several days of protests sparked by a cabinet reshuffle and the dismissal of the defense minister, marking the largest restructuring of military leadership since the war with Russia began in 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the appointment of 43-year-old Major General Mykhailo Drapaty as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, succeeding 60-year-old General Oleksandr Syrskyi. This came amid several days of protests in Kyiv and other major cities across the country.
This leadership change represents the largest restructuring of Ukraine's military command since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, reflecting the political pressures faced by the government amid the prolonged conflict entering its fifth year.
The key trigger for the protests last week was Zelensky's cabinet reshuffle, which included the dismissal of 35-year-old former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov was recognized as a driving force behind military reforms and the incorporation of modern technology into the war effort, despite serving only six months in office.
Protesters demanded the government reinstate Fedorov to his former position, criticizing General Syrskyi as a representative of an outdated Soviet-style command system, accused of rigid leadership that led to unnecessary personnel losses.
Analysts view this change as a reflection of longstanding internal conflicts within Ukraine's military leadership, raising concerns that Ukraine's battlefield advantage might be compromised.
Major General Drapaty is praised as a modern Ukrainian general who has spent most of his career on the frontlines, fighting Russian forces for over a decade.
He first gained recognition in 2014, early in the war in eastern Ukraine, when he commanded a battalion and led armored forces into the center of Mariupol to assist police and government officials besieged by Russian-backed separatists.
A defining moment came when he ordered armored vehicles to speed through a large barricade, an event widely publicized and becoming a symbol of early resistance against Russia. Later, his unit was surrounded near the border by Russian-supported forces, but he led over 260 troops and more than 30 vehicles to break the encirclement rather than surrender.
Over more than ten years, Drapaty rose to command several combat units before becoming Commander of the Ground Forces in 2024, and later leading Ukraine's joint forces responsible for all frontline operations.
He played a crucial role in halting Russian advances near Kriivyi Rih, President Zelensky's hometown, as well as pushing Russian forces out of parts of Kherson and thwarting new offensives in Kharkiv.
Despite his recognized capabilities, Drapaty once resigned as Commander of the Ground Forces after a Russian attack on a military training center caused significant Ukrainian casualties.
He took responsibility by submitting his resignation, acknowledging his failure to ensure effective security measures, and revealed that his efforts to reform the military were obstructed by officials protecting themselves from accountability.
Before his latest appointment, Drapaty was revealed by former Defense Minister Fedorov to have been disciplined three times by General Syrskyi due to his push for military reforms.
Zelensky stated that Ukraine will continue its military operations, especially long-range strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure and supply systems, which are key revenue sources for the Moscow government.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that sanctions combined with medium- and long-range attacks will be carried out precisely to pressure Russia into peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, the fate of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov remains uncertain. Although Zelensky revealed he offered Fedorov a new role overseeing state technology, Fedorov has insisted he only wants to return as Defense Minister.
Drapaty's appointment was welcomed by both Fedorov and protest leaders, who view him as a "breath of fresh air" for the Ukrainian military and a sign that the government is beginning to heed calls for military reform amid a war showing no sign of ending soon.