President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine's new top military commander to lead the general staff of armed forces.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the top commander of Ukraine’s land forces and the general staff of armed forces. Drapatyi replaces Oleksandr Syrskii, who was recently dismissed following a period of high performance for Ukrainian forces. The appointment follows the ouster of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a move that sparked significant public protest and highlighted internal debates regarding military strategy. While Syrskii championed a massive shift toward unmanned warfare and drones, Drapatyi is recognized for his preference for Western war playbooks over traditional Soviet-era stratagems. Drapatyi gained early fame for a daring armored vehicle drive through a pro-Russian barricade in Mariupol in 2014. The administration's leadership changes come as Russia faces significant manpower losses and a flattening war economy. Despite the internal restructuring, Moscow remains confident in its continued progress. The new leadership aims to maintain Ukraine's momentum in disrupting Russian logistics and securing territorial gains while navigating the ongoing conflict.