Ukrainian President Zelensky appointed 43-year-old Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Chief of the Armed Forces on Tuesday, July 21, replacing 60-year-old Oleksandr Syrskyi.
This personnel change comes in the wake of street protests erupting across Ukraine in recent days, marking the largest restructuring of the country’s military leadership since the outbreak of the conflict with Russia.
The replacement of senior officers stemmed from Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov being dismissed last week. Fedorov, known for his technological expertise and reform initiatives, was relieved of his duties, sparking consecutive days of protests throughout Ukraine.
It is believed that Fedorov’s dismissal was due to escalating conflicts between him and Syrskyi, bringing internal divisions within Ukraine’s defense leadership to the forefront.
Protest organizers had warned that if Syrskyi was not removed by July 24 and Fedorov was not reinstated as Defense Minister, they would launch nationwide indefinite protests.
Upon assuming his new role, Drapatyi took to Facebook, stating, “I will work with a sense of responsibility, full dedication, and respect for those defending our country today.”
Drapatyi is seen as a representative of the “new generation of leaders,” garnering broad support from civil society activists and many military personnel. He previously served as the Commander of the Ukrainian Army from 2024 to 2025 and has recently been responsible for operations in the Kharkiv region and its surrounding frontlines.
Since taking over the region last autumn, Ukrainian forces under Drapatyi, including the Khartiia Brigade, have recaptured significant territories near Kupyansk that were once under Russian military control or threat.
During the 2014 Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine, Drapatyi, then the commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, led an armored column into Mariupol. He rode in the lead infantry fighting vehicle, ordering the driver to accelerate over a roadblock over 1 meter high, with the related video subsequently going viral.
In contrast, while Syrskyi was praised by Zelensky for successfully defending Kyiv during the initial stages of the 2022 Russian invasion and commanding offensives in Kharkiv and operations in Kursk, his leadership style had also drawn criticisms.
Many Ukrainians believe that Syrskyi’s command thinking in the Soviet military system, reluctance to drive comprehensive reforms, and his rigid command style have resulted in significant unnecessary casualties, according to some military personnel.
Syrskyi previously wrote commentaries on the military website Militarnyi, stating that issues concerning military contracts, procurement, and mobilization are much more complex than perceived by the public.
He wrote, “Decisions that affect lives are not made through slogans. Winning wars requires diligent work, not the public spectacle surrounding these efforts.”
Fedorov, aged 35, who previously served as the Minister of Digital Transformation, was appointed as Defense Minister in January. He was widely praised for utilizing data analytics to improve frontline performance, promoting the “Army of Drones” fundraising campaign, and introducing a merit-based reward system on the battlefield.
Following Drapatyi’s appointment, Fedorov expressed, “This brings a breath of fresh air, a new hope in the fight for freedom and justice by free people. This is a voice of change that can no longer be ignored.”
Fedorov also revealed that he had called Syrskyi, thanking him for defending the Kyiv region and leading other “historically significant battles.”
He added, “But we need to move faster, correct all past mistakes, and write a new chapter.”
Zelensky stated that he had met with Fedorov and offered him a “suitable position” to oversee the country’s technological affairs. However, Fedorov had previously expressed his desire to return to his original position as Defense Minister.
Zelensky indicated that following numerous consultations with the military command in the past few days, the government had decided on the restructuring direction of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
He instructed Drapatyi to work with Acting Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara in formulating a new defense strategy focusing on reforming the army structure, weapon supplies, and drones.
Zelensky emphasized that military operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces would continue.
He stated, “Ukraine’s long-range sanction plan and our medium-range strike plan will be executed with absolute precision.”
Zelensky added, “We all aim for one thing: to defeat the enemy and create conditions for pressuring Russia toward accepting peace through the front line situation.”