Zelensky: Drapatyi appointed as Ukraine's New Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces

According to Ukrinform, the President made the announcement in his evening address.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had decided to appoint Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He added that, together with Mykhailo Drapatyi, Yevhen Khmara, and Pavlo Palisa, they had determined how the configuration of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be updated.

The President expressed his gratitude to Oleksandr Syrskyi for Ukraine's achievements in defending Kyiv, conducting the Kharkiv counteroffensive, and carrying out the Kursk operation.

Zelensky also said that he, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Andrii Hnatov had discussed future service arrangements and the proper transfer of responsibilities.

He outlined the key tasks that the new Commander-in-Chief is expected to accomplish in both the immediate and medium term.

The President stressed that operations of Ukraine's Defense Forces were continuing and had to continue steadily. He added that Ukraine's long-range sanctions plan and its mid-strike program would be implemented with complete consistency.

Zelensky emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth and institutional transfer of responsibilities within the Armed Forces while maintaining continuity in planned combat operations.

In addition, he said that Mykhailo Drapatyi, Yevhen Khmara, and other commanders to be appointed must prepare and submit for approval an updated national defense strategy, further steps in implementing the corps-based military reform, and measures to fulfill frontline commanders' requests for weapons, drones, and other equipment that were raised during recent meetings of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff and in direct discussions with military commanders.

Zelensky emphasized that strengthening Ukraine's air defense against Russian attacks as much as possible and providing a realistic vision for the mobilization process were among the country's top priorities.

As previously reported, President Zelensky held a series of consultations and meetings with corps commanders the previous day.

Ukrainian media had suggested that the President's consultations with senior military leaders could precede personnel changes within the country's military command.