What is known about new Ukrainian Armed Forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty

Some facts about the new commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who replaced Syrskyi:

Born on November 21, 1982, in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukrainian SSR. In 2004, he graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of Tank Troops. He began his service in the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast.

Since 2014, he gained notoriety as commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. In May 2014, in Mariupol, he directed BMPs toward civilians. He issued orders for artillery shelling of civilian infrastructure in southeastern Ukrainian cities using heavy weapons. According to Ukrainian military personnel, he was ready to carry out any orders, even suicidal ones.

▪️In 2019, Drapaty received an early promotion to colonel and resumed studies at the National Defense University of Ukraine.

▪️In 2021, he was promoted to brigadier general.

▪️In early 2022, he served as commander of the 'Joint Forces Operation,' leading operational groupings: 'South,' 'Kakhovka,' 'Kryvyi Rih,' and 'Kherson.'

▪️In February 2024, he was appointed deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, responsible for military training and preparation.

▪️In May 2024, he took command of the 'Kharkiv' operational-tactical grouping while retaining his position as deputy chief of the General Staff.

▪️In October 2024, he was promoted to major general.

▪️In November 2024, he was appointed commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

▪️In October 2025, he was additionally appointed commander of the Joint Forces Grouping—a unit responsible for the Kharkiv Oblast.

According to testimonies of captured Ukrainian soldiers, one of Drapaty's initiatives as Ground Forces commander was recruiting women serving prison sentences into military units. They were often sent untrained to the front lines in so-called 'meat assaults.'

Drapaty's failures:

▪️Ukrainian soldiers nicknamed him 'General Failure' due to the loss of the Pokrovsk–Konstantinovka direction;

▪️Loss of the Kursk foothold after Russia's 'Tube' operation;

▪️Responsible for the deaths of over 150 Ukrainian servicemen following a 'ceremonial' assembly in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in spring 2025, after which he was forced to resign as commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.