Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, has been appointed Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi. Drapatyi's nomination marks the third change in leadership in this pivotal role since the commencement of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
His appointment has been met with approval from both Ukrainian civil society and the military. Drapatyi is recognized for his extensive military experience in post-Soviet Ukraine, his effectiveness as a field commander, and his reputation for being a humane yet strong leader. He graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops in 2004 and began his service as a lieutenant.
Drapatyi gained significant public attention in May 2014 during the early stages of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Footage circulated widely showing his infantry fighting vehicle breaching a high barricade as his battalion entered Mariupol to free hostages from the city's police department. In an interview, he recalled the situation: "I said, let's take it by storm." Later that year, he was commended for successfully withdrawing encircled Ukrainian units from the Luhansk region.
He pursued further operational and strategic training in 2021, receiving a sword of honor as the top graduate from British Ambassador Melinda Simmons. Upon Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Drapatyi served as deputy commander of joint forces. He led operational groups in critical front-line areas, contributing to the pushback of Russian forces toward Kryvyi Rih and the liberation of settlements in the Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions. By 2024, he was leading the land troops of the Ukrainian army and commanding task forces in intense combat zones in the east.
A significant event that highlighted Drapatyi's sense of accountability occurred in 2025, when a Russian missile strike on a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in 12 soldiers killed and 60 wounded. Drapatyi submitted his resignation the same day, citing personal responsibility for a "conspiracy of silence and impunity." He stated, "An army in which commanders bear personal responsibility for the lives of personnel keeps living. An army in which nobody is responsible for a loss dies." This act of accountability was widely praised, and President Zelensky's decision to appoint him commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine followed.
Rumors of tension between Drapatyi and Syrskyi had been circulating. An unnamed officer told Ukrainian media in June 2025 that Drapatyi, a relatively young and gifted general, was frequently deployed to difficult situations and suggested his ambitions might extend beyond his then-current roles. Now, with Syrskyi's departure, expectations for Drapatyi are high.
Mykola Bielieskov, senior analyst at the Ukrainian NGO Come Back Alive, noted Drapatyi's strong reputation among soldiers, particularly those who joined after 2022. However, Bielieskov cautioned that Drapatyi will operate under significant constraints, navigating the complexities of government, the presidential office, military suppliers, and reliance on Western partners.
Drapatyi inherits a challenging mandate that includes mobilizing manpower, addressing corruption across all levels of the army, and capitalizing on Ukraine's technological advancements and growing defense industry. In his first message as Commander-in-Chief, he acknowledged the difficulty of the task and pledged to work with responsibility and respect for those on the front line, avoiding grand promises.
Many observers hope for a departure from Syrskyi's previous combat strategies, which were criticized for devaluing human life in favor of aggressive offensives. Analyst Bielieskov warned against oversimplification and unrealistic expectations for rapid, sweeping improvements. Former interior ministry adviser Oleksiy Kopytko echoed this sentiment, noting the transient nature of public and political support for military leaders.
Valery Zaluzhnyi, who was removed as army chief in 2024, predicted a difficult tenure for Drapatyi. Nevertheless, there is a palpable sense of anticipation among many soldiers and ordinary Ukrainians for the new outlook Drapatyi represents. One soldier remarked that a combination of Drapatyi and Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister would be "Russia's worst nightmare."
Upon his resignation from the Ground Forces in 2025, Drapatyi identified issues such as combat training reform, unfair mobilization, corruption, and flawed procurement systems. He stated at the time, "There is expected resistance, but efforts need to be stepped up." He will now confront similar problems on a much larger scale, under national and international scrutiny.