Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed 43-year-old Lieutenant General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief on Tuesday. The dismissal of Oleksandr Sirovy is the biggest change in the military leadership since the start of the Russian invasion, N1 reported.
The 60-year-old Sirovy had led the army since the beginning of 2024 and played a key role in the defence of Kyiv in the early days of the war. Sections of the military have recently criticised him for his rigid command style and the heavy losses on the battlefield, and his dismissal has raised questions about divisions within the Ukrainian leadership.
The decision followed days of protests triggered by changes in the government, including the dismissal of the reform-oriented Minister of Defence, Mykhailo Fedorov, after six months in the post. Among the protesters' demands was the removal of Sirovy.
When presenting the new commander, Zelensky stated that the operations of the armed forces must continue steadily and that the programme of medium-range strikes against Russia would be carried out with complete precision.
Drapati stated on Facebook that he would carry out the new role responsibly, with full focus and respect for the people defending Ukraine.
The appointment was welcomed by Fedorov, whose return to the Ministry of Defence was one of the protesters' main demands. Fedorvi described Drapatyi as "a breath of fresh air and a new source of hope". Zelensky said he had offered Fedorov a new position related to the development of technology, but the former minister had previously stated that he wanted to return only to his previous post.
