Zelenskyy Replaces Ukraine Army Chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania’s president and Poland’s president, after attending commemorations of the 1863 uprising, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Jan. 25, 2026. Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty ImagesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing General Oleksandr Syrskyi, according to a statement released by the president.Zelenskyy’s move came days after he replaced the country’s defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, a decision that sparked protests throughout the country.Zelenskyy said he met on Tuesday with Fedorov and offered him a senior leadership role that would oversee the country’s technological capabilities and their continued development.The major announcement came as Ukraine targeted the Moscow region with 400 drones on July 20, as part of an ongoing assault on Russia’s oil and logistical infrastructure.Zelenskyy has reshuffled the top levels of government over the last week.Also recently dismissed was Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Zelenskyy said July 19 that the government and law enforcement agencies needed “renewal.”Zelenskyy’s official statement said that general staff of the armed forces need to be “reconfigured.”Fedorov was credited with tackling corruption in Ukrainian military procurement and advocating for the use of drone technology on the battlefield.Drones have played a big part in Ukraine’s gains in its war with Russia in recent months. Ukraine has targeted Moscow’s armaments production sites and fuel infrastructure in a bid to disrupt its military capabilities.Fedorov’s removal led to the resignation of the deputy commander of the Ukrainian air force, Pavlo Yelizarov.This is a developing story and will be updated.