Oleksandr Syrskyi's successor speaks out

"I thank the President of Ukraine for the trust placed in me, the Minister of Defense for the support, and the Defense Forces for this new stage of service," Drapatyi wrote.

He emphasized that serving Ukraine has always been an honor for him and that during the war for independence it has represented "absolute responsibility."

"I am grateful to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, for his consistent work in strengthening the Ukrainian military. I grew up within it," Drapatyi wrote.

In addition, he promised that in his new position he would work "responsibly, with focus, and with respect for the people who are defending our state today."

On Tuesday, July 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his evening address that Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi would leave his post, and that the new Commander-in-Chief would be Mykhailo Drapatyi, the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the Ukrainian president, he and Drapatyi, together with acting SBU chief Yevhen Khmara and deputy head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa, determined what personnel changes would take place in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

What is known about Mykhailo Drapatyi?

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Mykhailo Drapatyi led the Southern Operational Group. In March 2022, he commanded the defense of Kryvyi Rih, where Ukrainian forces managed to halt Russian advances and stabilize the line of contact.

Later, Drapatyi led the Kherson Operational Group and was among the commanders who played a role in the liberation of the right bank of the Kherson region.

Drapatyi was promoted to the rank of major general in October 2024. He was responsible for repelling the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, which began in early May 2024.

After Oleksandr Syrskyi was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in February 2024, Drapatyi became Deputy Chief of the General Staff, where he was responsible for military training.

He first gained widespread recognition in 2014, when, in extremely difficult conditions in August of that year, he successfully led Ukrainian Armed Forces units out of encirclement in the Izvaryne area on the border with Russia.

Drapatyi is also known for his role in the de-occupation of Mariupol in 2014. As commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, he and his unit entered Mariupol in June 2014 in armored vehicles, destroying militant checkpoints along the way.

In 2016, Drapatyi was appointed commander of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.