Ukraine gets new top commander as protests spark war's biggest military shake up

Highlights

• Mykhailo Drapatyi seen as general of new generation
• Protesters demanded Syrskyi step down
• Ousted defence minister Fedorov offered new role
• Zelenskiy says strikes on Russia to continue

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday named a young ​major general, Mykhailo Drapatyi, as the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's military after days of street protests, marking the biggest shake-up in ‌the country's military leadership since its war with Russia began.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday named a young ​major general, Mykhailo Drapatyi, as the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's military after days of street protests, marking the biggest shake-up in ‌the country's military leadership since its war with Russia began.

Zelenskiy replaced Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, with Drapatyi, 43, a respected and experienced commander who led the country's land forces from 2024 to 2025 and is described as a general of a new generation.

Last week, Zelenskiy's government reshuffle and dismissal of tech-savvy reformist Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, after ​just half a year in office, stirred concerns among analysts that Ukraine's recent battlefield momentum could be lost.

Ukraine has been trying ​to gain the upper hand in the war by heavily striking Russia's energy sector - its main source of budget ⁠revenue - and logistics.

"The operations of the Ukrainian Defence Forces are ongoing and must continue steadily. Ukraine's plan for long-range sanctions and our program ​of middle-range strikes will be carried out with absolute precision," Zelenskiy said as he introduced Drapatyi.

The surprise government reshuffle last week led to a political ​crisis that exposed weaknesses in Ukraine's domestic governing due to the lack of elections during the war.

Drapatyi seen as voice of change

Drapatyi's appointment follows days of protests sparked by what critics said were poorly explained changes in government, and reflects the position of Ukrainians who see the use of technology as key to winning the war. His ​career was shaped fighting Russian troops for more than a decade.

Syrskyi played a key role in Kyiv's defence in the early days of the ​war and has been in his post since early 2024.

But he has also faced harsh criticism for a rigid command style which some service members have said ‌resulted ⁠in unjustifiably high troop losses.

Voices against him have surfaced periodically, but last week's reshuffle brought out into the open the deep divisions in the Ukrainian defence leadership.

Critics had accused Zelenskiy of favouring Syrskyi over Fedorov in a conflict between the two, and analysts questioned whether Ukraine could win the war, now well into its fifth year, under Syrskyi's leadership.

"I will work responsibly, with full focus, and with respect for the people who are defending ​our country today," Drapatyi said on ​Facebook.

Fedorov, whose return to office was ⁠one of the protesters' main demands, welcomed the appointment.

"This is a breath of fresh air and a new source of hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice. It is the voice of ​change that could no longer be ignored," Fedorov said on X.

Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran and one of ​the organisers of ⁠the protests, said on X that Drapatyi's appointment was a "gift", as he celebrated his birthday the same day the appointment was announced.

Fedorov's fate remained unclear. Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he offered him a "decent post" to oversee the technological component of the state, but the former minister has previously said that he ⁠only wants ​his old job back.

Last week, Zelenskiy chose Yevhenii Khmara, who was acting head of ​Ukraine's domestic security service, to become acting defence minister.

"We all want the same thing: to defeat the enemy and create the conditions - on the front line and through pressure on ​Russia - that would allow us to force Russia into peace," Zelenskiy added.