Ukraine names Mykhailo Drapatyi as army chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed a new commander-in-chief of the armed forces following the largest war-related protests since Russia's 2022 invasion, a move welcomed by soldiers but which has not fully quelled public demands for the reinstatement of a popular former defense minister.

Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi was named to lead the army on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, replacing General Oleksandr Syrsky. The leadership change came after several days of nationwide demonstrations triggered by the surprise dismissal of reformist Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on July 15. Protesters had demanded both Syrsky's removal and Fedorov's return.

Soldiers and civilians interviewed on Wednesday expressed approval of Drapatyi's appointment but indicated the political crisis is not fully resolved. In the frontline city of Izium, a 22-year-old soldier using the call sign Khrest said Syrsky's departure was positive but that the key demand remained Fedorov's reinstatement. The soldier credited Fedorov with lobbying for the widespread introduction of fixed-term contracts for mobilized troops, a major grievance for soldiers who have been serving without set terms.