Mykhailo Drapatyi has been named Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, with supporters hoping the combat-tested general will bring discipline and change.
Mykhailo Drapatyi has been named Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, taking over as the country’s top army leader at a moment when the war with Russia is grinding on and pressure is building for real change inside the force. The appointment puts a well-known field commander at the center of Ukraine’s military effort, with supporters saying the Drapatyi army chief choice could bring stronger discipline and a more humane command style.
Drapatyi, 43, replaces General Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, and becomes the third person to hold the post since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. His nomination has drawn backing from both civil society and the military. During protests that began in support of ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Drapatyi’s name was chanted as demonstrators shifted to demanding Syrskyi’s removal. One Ukrainian soldier told the BBC there was “no better person” for the job in Ukraine right now.
That support rests on a long record in the armed forces. Drapatyi graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops in 2004 and started out as a lieutenant. He later built a reputation as a capable battlefield commander, with many in the military describing him as both strong and humane. In 2014, video of his infantry fighting vehicle breaking through a makeshift barricade spread widely after his battalion entered Mariupol to help free hostages held at the city police department.
He later said he had been told barricades ahead were more than a metre high and asked what should be done. His answer, he recalled, was to take the position by force. That same year, he was also praised for pulling encircled Ukrainian units out of a border area in the Luhansk region. In 2021, he returned to university for further operational and strategic training and received a sword of honour as the top graduate, presented by British ambassador Melinda Simmons.
“Mykhailo Drapatyi has been named Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, with supporters hoping the combat-tested general will bring discipline and change.”
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Drapatyi was deputy commander of joint forces. He went on to lead temporary operational groups in several parts of the front line, including efforts that pushed Russian troops back from Kryvyi Rih and helped liberate settlements in the Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions. By 2024, he was in charge of Ukraine’s Ground Forces and was serving in some of the eastern front’s hardest-fought areas.
His record also includes a rare public act of accountability. Less than a year after taking the Ground Forces post, a Russian missile struck a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing 12 soldiers and wounding 60 others. Drapatyi resigned that day, saying he accepted personal responsibility for what he called a “conspiracy of silence and impunity” that had led to the deaths. He argued that an army where commanders are accountable can survive, while one where nobody answers for losses cannot.
President Volodymyr Zelensky accepted that resignation but then appointed Drapatyi to lead the Joint Forces, a move that was widely praised. From there, speculation about tension with Syrskyi only grew. Ukrainian analysts say Drapatyi is highly regarded among rank-and-file troops, especially those who joined after 2022 as civilians, but they also warn that he inherits a military system under heavy strain.
Those pressures are not small. A ceasefire with Russia still looks distant, another hard winter of war is ahead, and Ukraine must keep mobilising manpower while also confronting corruption in recruitment and procurement. At the same time, Drapatyi is expected to build on Ukraine’s advances in military technology and its growing defense industry. He has promised to work “without making loud promises,” stressing responsibility and respect for those on the front line. For Americans watching a war that continues to shape security and aid debates, the new Drapatyi army chief appointment matters because Ukraine’s battlefield staying power will depend not just on weapons, but on whether its command can deliver discipline, trust, and results.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mykhailo Drapatyi and what new role did he get?
Drapatyi, 43, is a Ukrainian field commander who has been named Ukraine’s commander-in-chief. He replaces General Oleksandr Syrskyi as the country’s top army leader.
Why has Drapatyi’s appointment received support?
His nomination has been backed by both civil society and the military. Supporters view him as disciplined, humane, and capable, and one soldier told the BBC there was “no better person” for the job.
What is Drapatyi’s military background?
He graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops in 2004 and rose through the army as a lieutenant, later becoming known as a battlefield commander. He led operations in places including Mariupol, Luhansk, Kryvyi Rih, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk.
What challenges will he face as commander-in-chief?
He is taking over while the war with Russia continues, a ceasefire looks distant, and another hard winter is ahead. Ukraine also still needs to mobilise manpower and address corruption in recruitment and procurement.
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