Who Is Mykhailo Drapatyi? Ukraine’s New Commander-in-Chief

On the evening of July 21, Oleksandr Syrskyi stepped down as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with Mykhailo Drapatyi taking over after previously serving as commander of the Joint Forces Command. Over the past several years, Drapatyi rose through the ranks to become a general, earning widespread respect within the military and distinguishing himself in numerous operations. His wartime service began in 2014, when Russia launched its military aggression against Ukraine in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

During discussions over the appointment of a new commander-in-chief, Drapatyi’s name emerged more frequently than almost any other candidate. 

“He has the most experience after Syrskyi,” people familiar with the deliberations said, noting that other potential candidates lacked his level of operational expertise. He enjoyed support from active-duty soldiers, veterans, and government officials alike. Drapatyi earned a reputation for speaking openly not only about successes but also for taking responsibility in difficult situations, without worrying about his public image or political standing—something he never sought.

Another major achievement that ultimately influenced the entire front was the “Drone Line” initiative. Drapatyi personally championed and publicly defended the project. The doctrine envisions creating a continuous kill zone stretching roughly 10 to 15 kilometers behind the front line, where the extensive use of drones makes it virtually impossible for Russian vehicles and infantry to advance without suffering heavy losses.

While commanding both the Ground Forces and the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group, 80% to 90% of frontline defense already relied on unmanned systems, says Drapatyi. As commander, he repeatedly described the Drone Line as an example of how timely decisions can rapidly change the battlefield and demonstrate the military’s ability to drive innovation.

Not a desk general—Mykhailo Drapatyi’s military career

Born in 1982 in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Drapatyi graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops in 2004 and began his career as a lieutenant in the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade.

When the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) began in 2014, Drapatyi—then a major—commanded the brigade’s 2nd Mechanized Battalion. The battles for Mariupol made him a symbol of Ukraine’s resistance during the early years of the war in Donbas. In August 2016, he took command of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. Even before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Drapatyi had advanced from battalion commander to brigade commander—not from headquarters, but while serving on the front lines.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Drapatyi was already serving in a senior command role. On March 17, 2022, he was appointed commander of the Southern Group of Troops, which was later reorganized into the Kakhovka Operational Group.

Under his command, Ukrainian forces halted the Russian advance toward Kryvyi Rih during the war’s most critical early weeks before launching a counteroffensive that pushed the front line forward by 6 to 23 kilometers and liberated dozens of settlements in the Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions. It was one of the defining turning points of 2022. Drapatyi remained in command of the Kherson grouping until 2024, meaning that the operation that ultimately liberated the west bank of the Kherson region was planned and executed under his headquarters.

In May 2024, after Russia opened a new front with its offensive into the Kharkiv region, Drapatyi was appointed commander of the Kharkiv Operational Tactical Group. His mission was straightforward: prevent Russia from expanding its breakthrough into anything larger than a limited cross-border operation. Ukrainian troops under his command contained Russian forces within two small buffer zones along the border, preventing them from approaching Kharkiv itself or advancing deeper into the region.

How Mykhailo Drapatyi reformed Ukraine’s Ground Forces

On November 29, 2024, Drapatyi became commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces—the largest branch of the Armed Forces. By his own account, he inherited “an atmosphere of fear, a lack of initiative, resistance to feedback, and indifference toward the problems facing personnel.”

In response, Drapatyi replaced roughly half of his senior leadership team, launched reforms of the recruitment system aimed at combating corruption, updated training methods to better reflect the realities of the battlefield, and began integrating modern technologies directly into military instruction. The goal was a systemic overhaul of a personnel system that, for decades, had been built on personal connections rather than performance.

On January 26, 2025, Drapatyi’s responsibilities expanded further when he was also appointed commander of the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group—the largest operational grouping within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, responsible for the entire eastern front, from Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region to Kharkiv. President Zelenskyy explained that the decision was intended to strengthen the command structure along the war’s most intense sectors.

In June 2025, Drapatyi was appointed commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces.

Challenges facing Ukraine’s new Commander-in-Chief

President Zelenskyy has made clear what he expects from the new commander-in-chief: preparing for Russia’s anticipated autumn offensive campaign and the possibility that the Kremlin could mobilize vast additional manpower. Ukraine’s military must be ready to halt any new Russian offensive and preserve the gains it has already achieved. 

At the same time, significant reforms remain necessary within the armed forces, alongside efforts to strengthen the military overall, including through the wider adoption of new technologies.

“We all share the same goal: victory over the enemy and achieving conditions on the battlefield—and through pressure on Russia—that will force Russia to make peace,” said Zelenskyy.

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