Mykhailo Drapatyi Appointed Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief as Zelenskyy Replaces Syrskyi

Mykhailo Drapatyi has officially replaced Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces as President Zelenskyy launches a sweeping military leadership reshuffle.

KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has carried out one of the most significant military leadership reshuffles since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, officially appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The appointments were formalized through presidential decrees published on the official website of the President of Ukraine on 22 July, marking a broad restructuring of the country’s highest military command.

Major Changes at the Top of Ukraine’s Armed Forces

The first series of presidential decrees dismissed several senior commanders:

• Oleksandr Syrskyi was relieved of his duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
• Mykhailo Drapatyi stepped down as Commander of the Joint Forces.
• Andrii Hnatov was dismissed as Chief of the General Staff.

The reshuffle was immediately followed by new appointments.

Under Presidential Decree No. 630/2026, Mykhailo Drapatyi was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Presidential Decree No. 631/2026 appointed Lieutenant General Ihor Skybiuk as the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The changes establish an entirely new military leadership team at a critical stage of Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Drapatyi: “A New Command Begins Work Today”

Shortly after the announcement, Major General Drapatyi confirmed that he had officially assumed command.

He thanked President Zelenskyy for supporting the appointment of Ihor Skybiuk as Chief of the General Staff, describing him as a trusted battlefield commander.

Drapatyi recalled first working with Skybiuk during Ukraine’s southern counteroffensive in 2022, when both commanders directed operations from the same command post during the liberation of the Kherson region.

“Since then, I have known him as a commander you can trust under the most difficult circumstances and rely on for his decisions, experience, and principles,” Drapatyi said.

He also highlighted Skybiuk’s role in developing many of Ukraine’s most respected airborne commanders, including:

• Air Assault Forces Commander Oleh Apostol,
• 8th Corps Commander Dmytro Voloshyn,
• 7th Corps Commander Yevhen Lasiichuk,
• Deputy Commander Sviatoslav Zaiets,
• 80th Air Assault Brigade Commander Emil Ishkulov,
• Deputy Commander of the Air Assault Forces Andrii Tkachuk.

According to Drapatyi, the new command team now faces an exceptionally demanding mission.

“We will work without loud promises – only with responsibility for our decisions and respect for those who hold the front and help Ukraine survive.”

Zelenskyy’s Priorities for the New Military Leadership

According to Drapatyi, President Zelenskyy assigned several strategic priorities to Ukraine’s new military command:

• Expand and intensify offensive operations across all operational domains.
• Plan new operations deep inside Russian territory.
• Accelerate military modernization and technological innovation.
• Continue strengthening the combat capabilities of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

These priorities reflect Kyiv’s increasing focus on combining conventional operations with long-range strikes, technological superiority, and deeper operations against Russian military infrastructure.

Who Is Mykhailo Drapatyi?

Mykhailo Drapatyi is widely regarded as one of Ukraine’s most capable operational commanders.

His military career began in 2004 with Ukraine’s 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, but he gained national recognition during the early phase of Russia’s aggression in 2014.

As commander of the brigade’s 2nd Mechanized Battalion, Drapatyi led one of the defining moments of Ukraine’s defense during the liberation of Mariupol on 9 May 2014, when his tank broke through barricades erected by Russian-backed militants. Video of the operation became one of the enduring symbols of Ukraine’s resistance.

In 2016, he took command of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, later serving in senior positions within both the General Staff and the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Drapatyi commanded several operational groups deployed to the most difficult sectors of the front.

Within Ukraine’s military, he earned the nickname “the firefighter of the front” because his formations were repeatedly sent to stabilize critical sectors under heavy Russian pressure.

In 2024, Zelenskyy appointed him Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces. After the deadly tragedy at the 239th training ground, Drapatyi submitted his resignation, accepting responsibility before later being appointed Commander of the Joint Forces.

His elevation to Commander-in-Chief now places one of Ukraine’s most experienced battlefield commanders at the head of the Armed Forces during one of the most demanding periods of the war.

Military observers view the reshuffle as an effort to strengthen operational leadership, improve battlefield coordination, and prepare Ukraine’s armed forces for the next phase of the conflict as Russian offensives continue across multiple sectors of the front.

EMPR