Mykhaylo Fedorov congratulated Mykhaylo Drapaty on his appointment as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, calling it "fresh air and new hope in the struggle of free people for freedom and justice." But behind this phrase lies a concrete story of conflict within the army that made the appointment possible.
From Mariupol to the General Staff
Drapaty was born in 1982 in Kamianets-Podilskyi in a family of teachers. He graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Forces in 2004 — and joined the 72nd mechanized brigade in Bila Tserkva, then commanded by Colonel Oleksandr Syrsky. Their paths crossed again — but differently this time.
Drapaty gained widespread public attention on May 9, 2014: his BMP-2 broke through a separatist checkpoint in Mariupol. The footage went viral and became one of the symbols of the early battles in the Donbas. Since then — the Kherson operation in 2022, command of the Ground Forces from November 2024, the Khortytsya Joint Forces Command from January 2025, United Forces from June 2025.
Three Reprimands as a Certificate of Independence
The conflict with Syrsky was no secret within the military. According to Glavkom, at a briefing on July 16 — already after his own dismissal — Fedorov stated publicly: for his successes, Drapaty received three reprimands from Syrsky. And in a joking manner, he suggested that after this speech, the general might receive another one.
A voice of change that could not be ignored.
Mykhaylo Fedorov — on Telegram after Drapaty's appointment
After Fedorov's dismissal, Drapaty was among the first to publicly support his position. According to Forbes Ukraine, personnel changes were preceded by rallies in Kyiv and other cities demanding Fedorov's return as minister and Syrsky's dismissal. Zelensky confirmed: there were disagreements between the two leaders.
What Fedorov Thanked — and What He Remained Silent About
In his post, the former minister also thanked Syrsky — for defending the Kyiv region in 2022 and the Kharkiv offensive operation. This is an important detail: Fedorov did not erase his predecessor, but outlined specific achievements. Such precision in praise signals that this is not about personal animosity, but about different approaches to managing the military during an active phase of war.
- Syrsky — a general of the Soviet school, centralized command, criticism for excessive top-down control
- Drapaty — representative of a new generation, proponent of decentralization of decision-making and responsibility for commanders in the field
According to Babel, Zelensky has already set tasks for Drapaty at the Ministry of Defense — reforms, personnel appointments, and, as the publication notes restrainedly, "some politics."
If Drapaty truly expands the autonomy of commanders at the brigade and corps level — this will test not only his management style, but also the military's ability to change during active combat operations without losing coordination.
