What is known about the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi?

"We'll formalize all decisions tomorrow": the President announced the new commander-in-chief

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22 Jul 2026

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Командуючий Сухопутних військ генерал-майор Михайло Драпатий

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the evening of 21 July 2026 announced that the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is to be Mykhailo Drapatyi.

According to the head of state, together with Mykhailo Drapatyi, Yevhen Khmara and Pavlo Palisa they have already determined how the configuration of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be renewed.

Zelenskyy also thanked Oleksandr Syrskyi, noting his role in the defense of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive operation and the Kursk operation.

“A significant path has been travelled, Ukraine’s defense continues, and a dignified attitude toward every warrior is needed. I am grateful Oleksandr Syrskyi and each of our soldiers for Ukraine’s strong frontline positions. I am grateful Mykhailo Drapatyi for precisely this outlook”, — the President said.

He added that together with Oleksandr Syrskyi and Andrii Hnatov he discussed further formats of service and the correct handover of affairs.

“Our desire is one — victory over the enemy and achieving such conditions on the front and in the pressure on Russia that would force Russia to make peace. Tomorrow we will formalize all decisions. Ukraine must come out of this situation stronger, and it will be harder for Russia”, — said Zelenskyy.

Mykhailo Drapatyi is 43 years old. He is a major general, a professional military officer and a tanker by education. In 2014 Drapatyi commanded the 2nd mechanized battalion of the 72nd brigade. On 9 May that year his unit received an order to break through to the seized police headquarters and help free the hostages. A video in which an infantry fighting vehicle (BMP) of his unit flew over a barricade of supporters of the “Russian world” became one of the symbols of the start of the war.

In the summer of 2014 Drapatyi took charge of organizing the breakout of Ukrainian units from encirclement near Izvaryne and Chervonopartyzansk. According to published data, his group then evacuated about 260 servicemen and more than 30 pieces of equipment, fighting their way for over 160 kilometres.
After the events of 2014 he returned to the front as chief of staff of the 30th mechanized brigade, although he could have continued full-time studies at the military university. His call sign is — “Rubin”.
In 2021 Drapatyi was recognized as the best graduate at the operational-strategic level of the National Defence University. Then the British Ambassador Melinda Simmons presented him with the transitional Queen’s sword of the United Kingdom.
During the full-scale war Drapatyi commanded forces in the south. The grouping subordinate to him, “Kakhovka”, liberated settlements in Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts and advanced into the defense of Russian forces by 6–23 kilometres. For these actions Drapatyi was awarded the Cross of Combat Merit.
In 2024 he was sent to the Kharkiv direction during the Russian offensive in the north of Kharkiv oblast. Drapatyi headed the OTU “Kharkiv”, and Zelenskyy later stated that the general organized the defense and effectively thwarted the Russian offensive operation.
Drapatyi is also called the “firefighter of the front”, as he was repeatedly redeployed to the most problematic sectors — Kherson, Kharkiv, the Luhansk direction, and later the eastern front. This is not an official call sign, but a description of his reputation as a commander sent to stabilize crisis situations.