New Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief: Mykhailo Drapatas, a veteran of key battles

General Mykhailo Drapatas, a seasoned commander with significant combat experience, has been appointed the new Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. His military career, marked by continuous engagement against Russian forces since 2014, positions him as a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.

Drapatas's leadership has been evident throughout various critical phases of the conflict. Early in the full-scale invasion, he served as the Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine. He later commanded forces in Southern Ukraine and played a key role in the liberation of Kherson. Prior to his current appointment, he led the Ground Forces, and in the summer of 2025, he became the Commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

His military journey began after graduating from the Kharkiv Military Institute in 2004. As a lieutenant, he joined the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade. Drapatas gained prominence for his role in the defense of Mariupol in 2014, where his unit's actions helped thwart Russian advances. A widely shared video of his armored vehicle breaching barricades became legendary, earning him significant public respect.

Following the Mariupol battles, Drapatas's battalion was tasked with clearing territory along the Russian border. Despite facing intense artillery and mortar fire and being cut off, he successfully organized and led his troops, along with over 30 units of equipment, out of encirclement near Voznesenivka and later Izvaryne in August 2014. This arduous 160-kilometer withdrawal, with the loss of only one soldier, cemented his reputation as a capable and resilient commander.

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There were days when we were shelled for seven hours without a break by all types of artillery and mortars. The forces were unequal, help did not arrive, ammunition ran out, almost all equipment was damaged and unusable. Then the units began to break out of the encirclement. Not everyone managed to get out, but those who broke through truly became heroes.