President Zelenskyy appoints Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, as the new commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s military, replacing the 60-year-old Oleksandr Syrskyi. This leadership change follows several days of public protests in Kyiv and other cities, where demonstrators demanded the removal of Syrskyi and criticized the recent dismissal of tech-reformist Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. While one source indicates the reshuffle was a direct response to these protests and internal government instability, another highlights that Zelenskyy had previously met with several high-ranking generals to evaluate potential leadership replacements. Critics of the outgoing leadership cited a preference for a more modern, technology-focused command structure over the perceived Soviet-style tactics attributed to Syrskyi. The transition occurs amid ongoing military efforts, including long-range strikes on Russian energy and logistics infrastructure. Despite the leadership shake-up, President Zelenskyy has emphasized that Ukraine remains committed to its current military strategy and precision strikes. The government is currently managing these changes without the oversight of national elections, which remain suspended due to martial law.