Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. Drapatyi replaced Oleksandr Syrskyi, who had served in the role since February 2024. The leadership change comes as Ukraine continues to manage active fronts in the eastern and southern regions of the country.
General Drapatyi previously gained recognition for his military actions during the 2014 conflict in eastern Ukraine. At that time, as a major, he commanded a mechanized battalion that broke through separatist-held territory near the city of Mariupol. Video of his armored vehicle jumping over a barricade became a widely circulated image in Ukraine during the early stages of the conflict.
The appointment follows several shifts in the Ukrainian military hierarchy over the past year. President Zelenskyy stated that the decision was intended to modernize the military command and improve the efficiency of defensive operations. Drapatyi is credited by military officials with playing a key role in the defense of various sectors since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.