KYIV — Ukraine’s newly appointed commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi, announced Wednesday that he has been given clear orders to intensify offensive military operations and carry out new missions on Russian soil.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made the appointment on Tuesday, selecting Drapatyi, 43, to take over from Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60. The transition marks the most significant overhaul of Ukraine’s military leadership since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
The command change follows last week’s broader government reshuffle, which included the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, 35 — a tech-focused reformer whose ouster brought deep divisions within Ukraine’s defense establishment into public view.
Drapatyi outlined his mission in a Facebook post, writing: “The President of Ukraine has set clear objectives for us: to continue and intensify offensive operations in all domains, to plan new operations behind enemy lines, to develop our military and its technologies, and to build up the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
Throughout this year, Ukraine has increased its strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and supply lines in an effort to weaken Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort.
Drapatyi also announced that Major General Ihor Skybiuk, formerly a commander of the air assault forces, will take over as the new head of the General Staff.
Drapatyi is widely regarded as a seasoned and capable commander representing a new generation of military leadership. His predecessor, Syrskyi, drew significant criticism for a commanding style described as inflexible — one that some service members blamed for unnecessarily high casualties among Ukrainian troops.
Protests had broken out on the streets of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities — a rare occurrence during wartime — with demonstrators calling for Syrskyi’s removal and the reinstatement of Fedorov.
Kyiv resident Ilona Ivchenko, 40, a human resources manager, expressed approval of the changes. “Zelenskiy heard the protesters,” she said. “I support Syrskyi’s dismissal, and Drapatyi’s appointment was the right choice.”
Syrskyi addressed his departure in a post on X on Wednesday, pointing to his military record and the reforms carried out under his watch — including the recapture of more than 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) of Ukrainian territory this year.
“I am handing over to my successor an army that is not only holding the defence but is also on the offensive — with initiative, with structure, with people who know how to beat the enemy,” Syrskyi wrote.
While Russian advances have slowed in recent months, Moscow’s forces continue to push forward in key areas of eastern Ukraine.
Zelenskiy said he and Drapatyi have determined how Syrskyi and outgoing General Staff chief Andrii Hnatov will continue contributing to Ukraine’s military efforts, though he offered no additional specifics.
Former Defence Minister Fedorov expressed support for Drapatyi’s appointment, even as his own future remains uncertain. Zelenskiy said Tuesday he offered Fedorov a “decent post” within the government, but Fedorov has publicly stated he wants only his previous position back. A source told Reuters that a reappointment for Fedorov is unlikely. Zelenskiy has named Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister in the interim.
Drapatyi assumes command at a time of heightened social and political tension surrounding Ukraine’s wartime leadership. Among the pressing challenges he faces is the sensitive matter of military recruitment. “A practical, effective mobilization process was identified as a priority,” Zelenskiy stated on X.
When asked about the leadership changes, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not expect the reshuffle to produce any meaningful shift on the battlefield.
