Key facts
- President Zelensky dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on July 21.
- Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi was appointed as Ukraine's new army chief.
- The dismissals followed protests sparked by the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
- Zelenskyy cited a dysfunctional relationship between Syrskyi and Fedorov.
- Ukraine recaptured 700 sq km of territory this year.
- Former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated the new commander faces an "incredibly difficult" task.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on July 21, appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as his successor. The decision followed mass protests triggered by the earlier dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, with Zelenskyy citing a dysfunctional relationship between Syrskyi and Fedorov. Syrskyi stated that Ukraine had recaptured 700 sq km of territory this year.
Drapatyi, 43, represents a younger generation of commanders and is described as a respected and experienced leader. His predecessor, Syrskyi, had faced criticism for a rigid command style that some service members said resulted in high troop losses.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and now ambassador to the UK, commented on the appointment, stating that Drapatyi faces an "incredibly difficult" task. Zaluzhnyi, who had largely shied away from media attention since becoming ambassador, shared his thoughts via Telegram, attaching a photo of himself with Drapatyi.
The military shake-up occurs as Ukraine steps up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and logistics, with the new commander tasked with intensifying offensive actions and launching new operations inside Russia.