Mykhailo Drapatyi appointed Ukraine's new army commander-in-chief

Kyiv announced on Tuesday that Lieutenant General Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed commander‑in‑chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, succeeding General Oleksandr Syrskyi. The presidential decree, issued as part of a broader government reorganization, formally transfers command responsibilities to Drapatyi, who previously headed the General Staff’s operational department.

The personnel shift comes after a cabinet reshuffle that removed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a widely recognized figure in Ukraine’s wartime leadership. The changes reflect President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s effort to streamline the defense establishment amid ongoing military operations, with the new army chief expected to continue the strategic direction set by his predecessor.