Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has taken another major decision and changed the Army Chief (Commander-in-Chief). Zelensky, who is facing opposition to the decision to remove the Defense Minister, has now handed over the command of the Ukrainian Army to Major General Mykhailo Druptai in place of the current Army Chief Alexander Syrsky. This decision has come at a time when Ukraine is under constant pressure on the war front and protests are taking place inside the country against the government.

46 year old Makhailo Drapatai becomes the new army chief

Makhailo Drapatai is 46 years old, while removed army chief Alexander Syrsky is 60 years old and was commanding the army since 2024. It is believed that Zelensky wants to bring new strategy and new energy to the army through youth leadership.

Protest increased after removal of Defense Minister

Last week, Zelensky made a major reshuffle in his entire cabinet. In this change, many ministers including Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko were removed and Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov was also removed from the post. After this, protests started in many cities including the capital Kyiv. Ex-servicemen and common people raised questions on the government’s decision and took to the streets to demonstrate.

Former Defense Minister enumerated the weaknesses of the army

After being removed from his post, Makhailo Fedorov raised serious questions on the condition of the Ukrainian army. He said that many of the army’s brigades have structural deficiencies and, except for drone warfare, Ukraine continues to suffer losses on most fronts. He also alleged that people are being forcibly recruited into the army to meet the shortage of soldiers. There have been reported differences between Fedorov and the then army chief Sirsky for a long time.

Decision taken amid increasing pressure from Russia

Ukraine’s situation remains challenging even on the battlefield. The Russian army is continuously making progress in the Donbass region and is moving towards capturing the entire area. Apart from this, the Russian army is also continuously advancing in Sumy and Kharkiv areas. In such a situation, Zelensky has appointed a new army chief with the aim of changing the army’s strategy.

Army chief changed for the second time during the war

This is the second time that Zelensky has changed the army chief since the war started in February 2022. Earlier in the year 2024, Valery Zaluzhny was removed and Alexander Sirsky was given command. Currently Zaluzhny is Ukraine’s ambassador to London. On the appointment of the new Army Chief, he wrote on social media that Makhailo Drapatai will face very difficult challenges and his tenure may prove to be more difficult than expected.

Drapatai’s name has also been associated with controversies

Makhailo Drapatai has previously been the Commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine and Deputy Chief of the General Staff. However, he has been recognized more as a war zone commander. Under his leadership, the Ukrainian army has not achieved any major military success so far and Russia addresses him as ‘field commander’.

The action of 2014 is still in controversy

Drapatai’s name first came into discussion in the year 2014, when he was posted at the post of Major. At that time, his mechanized battalion was sent to control protests and rebellion in the city of Mariupol in Donbass. It is alleged that while removing the barricades put up by the protesters, the BMP (Infantry Combat Vehicle) led by him was driven into the crowd and barriers. The video of this incident continues to go viral on social media even today and is considered a symbol of the action of the Ukrainian army in Mariupol.

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Russia has been making this incident the basis of propaganda

Russia has long been citing this incident, claiming that the Ukrainian army had committed atrocities against Russian-speaking people in the Donbass region. Russia had also included this argument among the reasons for the attack on Donbass in February 2022. Currently, areas like Mariupol, Donetsk and Luhansk are under the control of Russia and Russia considers them as part of its territory.