Who Is Ukraine's New Army Chief? Public Demanded Him, He's Remembered for Legendary Mariupol Breakthrough

Ukraine has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, as the new Commander-in-Chief of its Armed Forces, replacing Oleksandr Sirskyi. The decision comes after several days of public protests in Kyiv, where citizens, including soldiers and veterans, demanded Sirskyi's removal and put forward Drapatyi as his successor. Drapatyi's appointment follows dissatisfaction among some segments of the public after the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Drapatij stated that serving Ukraine is an honor and that he accepts the new role with "absolute responsibility." He also thanked Sirskyi, acknowledging his contribution to his military development. Drapatyi is recognized among Ukrainian military commanders for his effective leadership style, which prioritizes greater accountability for commanders, learning from mistakes, and implementing necessary reforms within the army. He publicly supported former Defense Minister Fedorov, emphasizing the need for changes and a different approach within the Ukrainian military.

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Serving Ukraine is an honor and I accept this new duty as an absolute responsibility.

Drapatij has previously warned that commanders must not remain silent about problems, as unaddressed errors tend to accumulate and become more difficult to rectify. The Kyiv Independent notes that his command style differs from criticisms leveled against Sirskyi in recent years. Some junior officers had faulted Sirskyi for a too-centralized management approach, linking it to Soviet military traditions. Drapatyi, born in Kamianets-Podilskyi, began his military career as a tank corps officer, graduating from the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Forces in 2004. He gained broader public attention in 2014 during the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

He became known for an action in Mariupol where a Ukrainian combat vehicle broke through a barricade of pro-Russian forces, an event that later became a symbol of resistance. After the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022, Drapatyi participated in the defense of key areas. As deputy commander of the operational group South, he halted Russian advances toward Kryvyi Rih and later participated in the liberation of Kherson. He received special recognition in 2024 during the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region for his organizational efforts.

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Commanders must not remain silent about problems because mistakes will otherwise accumulate and become more difficult to correct.