22/07/2026 19:10 - Internacionales
On July 22, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Mijailo Drapati as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The 43-year-old general, previously serving as commander of the Ground Forces, assumes the role replacing Oleksandr Sirskyi (60). His mission is to drive the technological modernization of the military and continue offensive operations against the ongoing Russian invasion, which began in 2022.
During the assumption ceremony in Kyiv, Drapati thanked the president and announced that General Ihor Skybiuk will serve as the new Chief of the General Staff. The new commander highlighted his clear objectives: continue and strengthen offensive operations, plan new missions behind enemy lines, and develop military technology, while maintaining a realistic approach given the magnitude of the task.
The change in the military command was accelerated by six days of street protests. The crisis began on July 15, 2026, with the dismissal of Defense Minister Mijailo Fedorov (35), a highly popular figure known for promoting technology and drone warfare. His departure caused deep discontent and internal divisions, with protesters demanding not only Fedorov return but also the removal of Sirskyi, whom they considered anchored to a Soviet-era vision of the conflict.
To replace Fedorov, Zelenskyy appointed Yevguen Jmara, former head of the SBU intelligence, as interim Defense Minister. Although the president offered Fedorov a new role to unify the state technological components, the former minister has not yet accepted. Fedorov publicly supported Drapati, calling him a breath of fresh air and a new reason for hope.
With 26 years of military career, Drapati is an officer forged in combat since 2014, when he led rescue operations in Mariupol and the Donbas region. Following the 2022 Russian invasion, he coordinated the defense of Kryvyi Rih and the liberation of southern zones. In November 2024, he was appointed commander of the Ground Forces.
In 2025, a Russian attack on a training center under his command killed twelve recruits. Drapati took moral responsibility and submitted his resignation, a gesture that earned him great public respect, though Zelenskyy did not accept it and instead appointed him commander of the Joint Forces.
In his farewell, Oleksandr Sirskyi defended his management at the head of the army since February 2024. He emphasized that he inherited defensive troops from his predecessor, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and is leaving the post with troops on the offensive.
Sirskyi stated that under his command, 743 square kilometers of territory were recovered in 2026, and highlighted the creation of a special command exclusively for drones. Zelenskyy recognized his role in the defense of Kyiv and the Kharkiv offensive, offering him new positions of responsibility in the military structure.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
