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Drapatyi takes command
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on July 21, 2026, succeeding General Oleksandr Syrskyi after days of nationwide protests tied to the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
“AGI - Nuovo terremoto in Ucraina ai vertici delleforze della difesa: il presidenteVolodymyr Zelenskyha licenziato il comandante in capo delle forze armate,Oleksandr Syrskyi, e ha offerto una "posizione di rilievo" al ministro della DifesaMykhailo Fedorovche aveva rimosso la settimana scorsa”
NATO’s Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Giovanni Galoforo, said “Of course, no changes in military cooperation are anticipated,” as personnel rotations occur and the Alliance’s support strategy remains “clear and steadfast.”
The Kyiv Independent reported that Drapatyi’s appointment followed protests that demanded Syrskyi’s dismissal, and it described Russian outrage on social media and military blogs over a commander it said “hates (Russian soldiers) and hates them consistently.”
BBC profiling put Drapatyi, 43, in the role after he replaced Syrskyi, 60, as Ukraine’s commander-in-chief and described him as the third such commander since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Protests and hostile reactions
The Kyiv Independent said Drapatyi’s appointment was met with celebration among Ukrainian military personnel and protesters, while Russian social media users warned about the new commander-in-chief and contrasted Ukraine’s political system with Russia’s.
Russian military blogger Kirill Fedorov wrote on Telegram, “He hates us, and he hates us consistently. That means he will try to kill us,” after sharing footage of Drapatyi breaking through a blockade in Mariupol as part of a BMP-2 crew.
In parallel, the BBC reported that Drapatyi’s support rests on years of military experience and his reputation for being “a humane and strong commander among the military,” and it quoted a Ukrainian soldier saying, “There's no better person for this position nowadays in Ukraine.”
Defense News described Zelenskyy’s move as replacing top general Oleksandr Syrskyi after protests demanding Syrskyi’s removal over the rift that cost Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov his job a week earlier, and it included Zelenskyy’s statement that “It is a fact that Oleksandr Syrskyi ensured Ukraine’s success” in defending Kyiv and in the Kharkiv and Kursk operations.
What changes next
Multiple outlets framed Drapatyi’s new role as part of a broader effort to reset Ukraine’s military leadership after the Defense Ministry shake-up, with StratNews Global saying the appointment followed street protests and a “most significant overhaul” since the war began.
“- Published Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, has replaced Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, as Ukraine's commander-in-chief - the third since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022”
BBC said prospects of a ceasefire with Russia remain slim and that Drapatyi will face constraints while mobilising manpower and tackling corruption “from conscription officers to defence procurement,” even as he is expected to capitalise on Ukraine’s technological advances and the tech defence industry.
Defense News reported that Zelenskyy wrote, “I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and every one of our soldiers for their strong positions in the front lines,” and it quoted the new CIC’s response: “I will work responsibly, focused and with respect for the people who are defending our state today.”
In Moscow, the tv5monde report said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov argued that the leadership change “could not lead to any changes on the front line,” adding that Russia “continues its offensive,” keeping the immediate stakes centered on battlefield pressure.
