Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, takes charge at a pivotal stage of the war with Russia, facing mounting challenges including troop shortages, battlefield reform and the rapid evolution of drone warfare.
Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, replaces General Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, who was removed from the post after growing criticism of Ukraine's military leadership.
Drapatyi, the former commander of Ukraine's land forces and current joint forces chief, is seen as part of a new generation of Ukrainian military leaders shaped by years of combat against Russian forces.
During his 26-year military career, he rose from tank lieutenant to become one of Ukraine's most respected battlefield commanders.
His appointment followed a wider government reshuffle last week that included the removal of tech-focused reformist Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, exposing divisions within Ukraine's defence leadership.
Drapatyi said the military would focus on expanding operations, developing new technologies and strengthening Ukraine's armed forces.
"The President of Ukraine has set clear objectives for us: to continue and intensify offensive operations in all domains, to plan new operations behind enemy lines, to develop our military and its technologies, and to build up the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he said on Facebook.
Drapatyi first gained national recognition in 2014 during fighting in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region.
He became known for leading a high-risk operation in Mariupol, where he ordered an armoured vehicle to break through a Russian barricade while attempting to rescue besieged Ukrainian police officers.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Drapatyi was appointed to command some of the most difficult sectors of the front line.
In 2024, he helped halt a Russian advance near Kharkiv, stabilising the front before becoming the youngest commander of Ukraine's land forces.
As commander of the land forces, Drapatyi focused on improving recruitment and military training while promoting greater flexibility among frontline commanders.
However, his tenure in the role was brief.
After a Russian strike on a Ukrainian military training centre in June 2025 killed at least 12 soldiers, Drapatyi resigned, saying commanders must be accountable for the lives of their troops.
His resignation surprised many in Ukraine. Soon afterwards, he was appointed commander of the joint forces, a role focused more directly on battlefield operations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Drapatyi's appointment was part of an effort to "reset" Ukraine's defence strategy.
“I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to every one of our warriors for Ukraine’s strong front-line positions. I am grateful to Mykhailo Drapatyi for holding that same view,” Zelenskyy said.
The leadership change followed six days of protests in Kyiv after the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose dismissal exposed divisions within Ukraine's defence leadership.
Syrskyi played a key role in defending Kyiv during the early stages of the war and had served as commander-in-chief since 2024. However, critics accused him of using a rigid command style that contributed to heavy troop losses.
Russia said the appointment of a new Ukrainian commander-in-chief would not alter the situation on the battlefield.
“I don’t think this will lead to any changes on the front lines,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Drapatyi assumes command as Zelenskyy oversees Ukraine's biggest military shake-up in years, with Ukrainian forces stepping up long-range strikes on Russia's oil sector and battlefield logistics in an effort to weaken Moscow's war machine.
Although Russia's advances have slowed this year, its troops continue to press forward in strategically important areas, including Ukraine's eastern "fortress belt", a defensive corridor of four key cities in the Donetsk region.
At the same time, intensified Russian ballistic missile attacks continue to devastate Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, while Ukraine's shortage of U.S.-designed air defence systems has left many areas increasingly vulnerable.
Zelenskyy has appointed an interim defence minister, but it remains unclear whether Fedorov will return to government.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump threatens a heavy strike on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Tehran warns that any attack could trigger a wider regional escalation.
Daniel Siad, a modelling scout whose name appeared in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home near Paris, French prosecutors said. He was 69.
ASEAN foreign ministers opened the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila on 21 July, launching four days of talks that run until 24 July. The agenda includes South China Sea tensions, Myanmar’s conflict and growing U.S.-China rivalry.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand has renewed calls for an immediate de-escalation and permanent ceasefire in the Middle East while she warned that the humanitarian situation had become "quite grave". Anand also raised concern over tensions in the South China Sea.
Pakistan has asked the U.S. for a $10 billion exchange stabilisation facility, according to a source briefed on the matter. If approved, the funding would bolster the country's foreign exchange reserves and provide a major boost to its cash-strapped economy.
A satirical online campaign has become one of the largest youth-led protest movements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, fuelled by anger over exam failures, unemployment and concerns about India’s education system.
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