A popular figure at the head of the Ukrainian army. In the middle of a government reshuffle for a weekVolodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday July 21 that he would appoint Mykhaïlo Drapaty, 43, as commander-in-chief of his army, in place of Oleksandr Syrsky, 60.
A sign of appeasement to calm the street? In any case, the President of Ukraine has been facing for several days a protest movement in kyiv. At issue: the dismissal of the popular Minister of Defense Mykhaïlo Fedorov. This 35-year-old reformist, who was notably at the heart of innovation in the use of drones on the battlefield, was also at odds with Oleksandr Syrsky – more favorable to a traditional approach to the military strategy to be followed on the front.
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The demonstrations that began on July 15 gradually transformed into a call to replace Oleksandr Syrsky, according to the Kyyiv Independent daily. To the point that “many demonstrators, some of whom are soldiers and veterans, urged the president to replace (him) with the head of the Joint Forces, Mykhaïlo Drapaty,” writes the Ukrainian newspaper.
The new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army seems light years away from his predecessor – who was nicknamed the “butcher” in particular for his negligence towards human losses within his troops. Mykhaïlo Drapaty is described by his colleagues as a general of a new generation whose career was forged in combat against Russian troops.
Iron discipline and formidable combat effectiveness
Supporter of a strategy focused on tactical innovation and the integration of drones, Mykhaïlo Drapaty did not hesitate to provide his support to Minister Fedorov when he was dismissed. “I believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are capable of learning, developing technologies, protecting the population and allowing commanders to take responsibility for the result,” he notably wrote on Facebook.
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Even if he clearly does not seem to be on the same wavelength as General Syrsky, from whom he had received three reprimands, according to Fedorov, Mykhaïlo Drapaty still thanked his predecessor when being appointed in his place: “I am grateful to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, for his constant work to strengthen the Ukrainian army (…). I will work responsibly, focused and with respect for the people who defend our state today.”
Aged 43, Mykhaïlo Drapaty represents a new generation of Ukrainian generals, forged in the crucible of the fight against Russia. He passed almost his entire career in combat positionsnotably at the head of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, which coordinates the daily combat operations of the different branches of the army.
Renowned for his iron discipline and his formidable effectiveness in combat, he is often sent to stabilize the most critical sectors of the front. Mykhaïlo Drapaty has rarely appeared in public, but his past victories have earned him great respect and popularity, both within and outside the armed forces.
His appointment also worried several Telegram channels of Russian pro-war bloggers. “It’s bad for us. A general who distinguished himself in combat and who understands war is a formidable adversary,” wrote Yuri Podolyaka, a propagandist blogger decorated in February 2023 by Vladimir Putin.
“Put on the gas!”
Mykhaïlo Drapaty has built a solid reputation since 2014. Engaged against Russian troops in Donbass, he ordered the driver of an armored combat vehicle in Mariupol to force a Russian roadblock to rescue besieged brothers in arms. Strong images, still broadcast today on social networks, show the military vehicle ramming the makeshift barricade erected on one of the main avenues of the Ukrainian city.
Recalling the episode in an interview with Ukrainian media, Mykhaïlo Drapaty quotes the driver’s words: “Comrade Major, look, there are barricades ahead. What do we do?” “I said: ‘Dima, put on the gas!'”.
This moment is considered one of the most significant episodes in the beginnings of Ukrainian resistance, with the desire to repel the separatists supported by Moscow. This move was also bold at a time when the Ukrainian military wanted to avoid any action that could exacerbate tensions with Russia.
During the following decade, Mykhaïlo Drapaty rose through the ranks within the Ukrainian military hierarchy. Among other functions, he led brigades in eastern Ukraine, then served as deputy commander of joint forces when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. He then took command of the forces which stopped the Russian advance on Kryvyï Rih – the hometown of Volodymyr Zelensky – and then helped to push back Russian troops from parts of the Kherson region.
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The year 2024 is, then, also an important year for him. Among other missions, he organized the defense which slowed down a new Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region. All these engagements on the battlefield earned him the appointment of commander of land forces at the end of 2024 by the President of Ukraine.
Spirit of responsibility and “need for new rules”
In addition to his feats of arms, Mykhaïlo Drapaty also demonstrated a spirit of responsibility to gain the respect of his troops. On June 1, 2025, he resigned as commander of the land forces, ensuring in a long post published on Facebook wanting to own up to your mistakes after the day has passed.
Shortly before, the Ukrainian Army had announced the death of 12 soldiers and more than 60 injured in a Russian missile strike on a training ground. “The behavior of the combatants is important, but the main responsibility always lies with the command,” wrote Mykhaïlo Drapaty. “The esprit de corps pushed to the point of mutual protection and impunity are poison for the army. (…) But if such tragedies are repeated, it means that my efforts were not enough.”
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“If we do not draw conclusions, if we do not change our attitude, if we do not recognize our mistakes, we are doomed,” he also added. For political commentator Volodymyr Fessenko, this episode “illustrates (Mykhaïlo Drapaty’s) determination and his high ethical standards”.
The resigning officer was then appointed head of the joint forces, where he pushed for reforms, supporting the approach of Mykhailo Fedorov. When the latter resigned last week, Mykhaïlo Drapaty affirmed that the “transformation” of the army must continue. “When the right decision has to be implemented despite the system, and not because of it, that means the system itself has to change,” he said then. “The army needs new rules.”
It is up to him to push for these “new rules” now that he has been named commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army.
With agencies
