Zelenskyy Names Drapatyi as Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday he had chosen Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi to become commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Zelenskyy announced the decision in a post on X. He said he worked with Drapatyi, Yevhenii Khmara and Pavlo Palisa to determine how the General Staff should be reconfigured.

The decision follows the removal of Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister six days ago during a government reshuffle. That triggered protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, where demonstrators demanded Fedorov’s reinstatement and Syrskyi’s dismissal.

Zelenskyy credited Syrskyi with delivering results in the defense of Kyiv, the Kharkiv offensive and the Kursk operation. “Every warrior must be treated with dignity,” he said.

He said he discussed the handover and future service arrangements with Syrskyi and Andrii Hnatov.

The president said the decisions would be formalized Wednesday. He said Ukraine’s goal remains to defeat Russian forces and create conditions that would force Russia into peace.

This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.