KYIV (Realist English). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree dismissing Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi in his place.
The decision was announced in an evening address on July 21 and represents the most significant change in the country’s military leadership since 2024.
“I have decided that the new Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be Mykhailo Drapatyi,” Zelenskyy said.
Change of Commander‑in‑Chief Amid Political Crisis
Syrskyi’s dismissal came a week after a major government reshuffle, during which the Verkhovna Rada on July 14 dismissed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, which automatically led to the resignation of the entire Cabinet of Ministers.
As a result of the government reorganisation, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had been appointed to the post only in January 2026, left his position.
Fedorov’s dismissal sparked mass protests across the country. On July 16, rallies took place in Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, and other cities. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Dismiss Syrskyi” and “Bring Back Fedorov.”
The Fedorov‑Syrskyi Conflict – the Reason for the Dismissal
After his dismissal, Fedorov publicly stated that even while serving as minister, he had proposed to the president that Oleksandr Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov be dismissed. According to him, the reason was systemic problems in army management: bureaucracy, resistance to reforms, manual distribution of weapons, and decision‑making “based on loyalty rather than data analysis.”
Fedorov claimed that after Zelenskyy refused to change the military leadership, he agreed to work with Syrskyi, but practically all reforms of the Defence Ministry subsequently began to be blocked by the General Staff.
Syrskyi himself publicly apologised to Fedorov in a rare personal column, saying: “If I have offended anyone: Mykhailo Albertovych, I apologise. I can be tough.” However, he also warned against allowing the conflict to become personal rivalry: “Ukraine is bigger than Fedorov, Syrskyi, or any of us.”
Zelenskyy acknowledged the existence of a systemic conflict between the Defence Ministry and the General Staff, but kept the commander‑in‑chief in his post. Later, the president said that “ideally, both Fedorov and Syrskyi should be dismissed, but he cannot do that right now.”
Who Is Mykhailo Drapatyi
The new commander‑in‑chief is 43 years old – he is one of the youngest Ukrainian generals, having fought since 2014.
Drapatyi fought in Donbas, commanded units in the hottest spots, and later played a key role in the defence of the right‑bank Kherson region in autumn 2022.
At the start of the full‑scale invasion, he commanded several combat units, and in 2024 he was appointed Commander of the Ground Forces. He left that post after a series of Russian strikes on training grounds where Ukrainian troops were being trained. Later, Zelenskyy appointed him Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In this post, Drapatyi commanded the front in the Kharkiv region. Since autumn 2025, Ukrainian units under his command, including the “Khartia” brigade, have retaken significant territories around Kupiansk. Previously, he had headed the operational‑strategic group of forces “Dnipro.”
Drapatyi has earned a reputation as a favourite among civil society activists and many military personnel.
After Fedorov’s dismissal, he publicly supported the former minister, saying he had seen sincere attempts to change long‑standing military rules and solve problems that the system was accustomed to ignoring.
“The military needs change, but without justice, no change will make sense for those who carry this war on their shoulders every day,” Drapatyi wrote on social media.
Reorganisation of the General Staff
Along with Drapatyi’s appointment, Zelenskyy announced a reorganisation of the General Staff structure. Drapatyi, Yevhen Khmara, and Pavlo Palisa are involved in updating the configuration of the General Staff.
The head of state also said that he spoke separately with Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov about their future roles and ensuring a smooth handover. At the same time, Zelenskyy thanked Syrskyi for the defence of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive, and the Kursk operation.
The appointment of Drapatyi marks a generational shift in Ukraine’s military leadership. The 43‑year‑old general, who supported Fedorov’s reforms, is given the authority to carry out the reorganisation of the General Staff.
Zelenskyy’s decision was made under pressure from mass protests demanding Syrskyi’s dismissal. The question of whether Fedorov will retain influence over defence policy and what role Syrskyi and Hnatov will play in the new configuration remains open.
