Mykhailo Drapatyi to become new commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces
Following six days of protests, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced his decision to dismiss Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and appoint Mykhailo Drapatyi to replace him.
Source: Zelenskyy in an address on 21 July
Quote: "I have decided that Mykhailo Drapatyi will become the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Together with Mykhailo, Yevhenii Khmara [acting Defence Minister], and Pavlo Palisa [Deputy Head of the President's Office], we determined how the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be reconfigured.
It is a fact that Oleksandr Syrskyi delivered results for Ukraine in the defence of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive, and the Kursk operation. We have come a long way, Ukraine's defence continues, and every warrior must be treated with dignity. I am grateful to Oleksandr Syrskyi and to every one of our warriors for Ukraine's strong positions on the front.
I am grateful to Mykhailo Drapatyi for sharing this vision. Today, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Andrii Hnatov [Chief of the General Staff] and I discussed future service formats and the proper handover of duties."
Details: Zelenskyy added that he and Drapatyi have identified the tasks that must be carried out in the immediate future and over the medium term.
The president said the plan for long-range strikes will be implemented precisely as intended.
Drapatyi, Khmara and other commanders are also expected to prepare an updated defence strategy for Ukraine and outline further steps in reforming the corps system.
Zelenskyy identified protecting Ukraine's skies from Russian attacks and developing a realistic vision for the mobilisation process as priorities.
Quote: "I also had a meeting today with Mykhailo Fedorov. I offered Mykhailo a worthy leadership position that would allow him to bring together our country's technological capabilities and ensure their continued development."
Background:
- Protests were held in Kyiv and other cities on 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 July, with demonstrators demanding that Fedorov be reinstated as defence minister and that Syrskyi be dismissed as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov and Syrskyi had been unable to find common ground and that problems on the battlefield, within brigades and with mobilisation remained unresolved.
- On 18 July, Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Fedorov and Syrskyi. He promised that "decisions regarding the army will be worked out".
- On 20 July, Syrskyi apologised to Fedorov and said he had not realised there was a conflict between them.
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