President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday the appointment of Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi to serve as the commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces. Drapatyi, who currently oversees the Joint Forces in Kharkiv Oblast, replaces the outgoing commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The decision follows a period of significant public unrest, as protesters organized in cities across the country to demand both the reinstatement of Fedorov and the dismissal of Syrskyi.
The leadership change stems from an irresolvable feud between the defense minister and Syrskyi, which led Zelenskyy to remove Fedorov from his position last Wednesday. Addressing the situation last week, Zelenskyy told journalists in Kyiv that he sought unity, noting, "The sides did not achieve it. And that isn't just their problem, but mine as well. I do not absolve myself of responsibility. And in such a situation, the way out is either one side or the other, because without me they don't sit down together."
The public response to the initial shake-up was immediate. Demonstrators took to the streets carrying signs calling for Fedorov’s return, while the pro-government media organization United24 paused its operations to join the protests. The dissent extended to the defense ranks, with several senior officials, including the deputy commander of the Air Force, submitting their resignations. One member of parliament belonging to Zelenskyy’s own party expressed staunch opposition to the change, telling reporters that his colleagues would "100% not accept" the replacement of Fedorov.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the public pressure and held meetings with top commanders over the weekend before finalizing the transition. Drapatyi is viewed as a reform-minded leader who has maintained close ties to Fedorov and has been credited with achieving notable battlefield progress against Russian forces in Kharkiv. In a Telegram post confirming the appointment, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for a "dignified attitude to each soldier" and reaffirmed the national goal of achieving victory. "We all have one desire — victory over the enemy and the achievement of such conditions at the front and in pressure on Russia that would allow us to force Russia to peace," the president stated.
