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Zelensky reshuffles top brass
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Major Drapatyi as Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief after protests erupted following Zelenskyy’s firing of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had been on the job for just six months.
“How protests over a popular minister’s firing sparked Ukraine’s sudden military reset How protests over a popular minister’s firing sparked Ukraine’s sudden military reset KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — In the span of a single week, the dismissal of a Ukrainian defense minister set in motion a transformation of the country’s armed forces that replaced the old guard with a new generation of leadership”
The crisis followed Zelenskyy’s dismissal of Fedorov and the protesters’ demand that Zelenskyy reinstate Fedorov and fire Syrskyi, with some demonstrators chanting Drapatyi’s name.
The BBC reported that Fedorov rejected Zelensky’s job offer and insisted there were "only three positions in the state - in addition to soldiers on the battlefield - which determine the course of the war: president, defence minister and commander-in-chief".
In the same BBC account, Zelenskyy said he offered Fedorov several posts, including deputy prime minister, after Fedorov’s removal triggered mass protests.
Long War Journal described Drapatyi as the youngest officer ever appointed as Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, and said he would enter the role with challenges including mobilization reform.
Protests, refusal, and rivalries
Fedorov’s refusal to accept an alternative post kept the dispute in public view, with the BBC saying he insisted on being reinstated as defense minister and that protesters vowed to continue street demonstrations until Fedorov returned.
The BBC also quoted Fedorov’s statement that his team had a "specific plan how to end the war" when he was appointed defence minister in January, with elements including protection of the skies, stabilisation of the front, and strikes against Russia’s economy.
Long War Journal framed the leadership crisis as more than a personal feud, describing it as a generational clash between competing cultures and visions for the war.
That same analysis said Syrskyi, appointed in February 2024 after Zelenskyy ousted his predecessor, was seen by many in Ukraine as a “butcher” willing to sacrifice troops and resources for questionable objectives.
Long War Journal added that Drapatyi was credited with halting Russia’s advance toward Kryvyi Rih and later helping liberate Kherson in fall 2022, and said he was known for stabilizing difficult situations, including during Russia’s offensive north of Kharkiv in May 2024.
What comes next for Ukraine
Zelenskyy’s reshuffle aimed to address the political and military transition created by the protests, with NPR describing that after a week of nationwide protests over Ukraine’s military strategy, Zelenskyy named Mykhailo Drapatyi to replace Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, whom he fired late Tuesday.
“On Tuesday (July 21), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”
NPR reported that Drapatyi wrote, "We are working with responsibility for our decisions and for the people who hold the front line and help Ukraine stand firm," after his appointment was announced.
The Guardian said Zelenskyy fired Syrskyi and offered a “prominent position” to the defense minister he sacked last week, and it described Zelenskyy’s aim to bring Fedorov back into government after nationwide protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
In the Guardian’s account, Zelenskyy said he and Drapatyi agreed Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks on targets in Russia such as oil refineries would continue, and he promised a smooth and coordinated handover following Syrskyi’s departure.
Long War Journal warned that Drapatyi enters his new role with a long list of challenges ahead, including the daunting task of mobilization reform, even as it described him as embracing unmanned systems and other technology.
