Drapatyi’s appointment: "breath of fresh air" for Armed Forces of Ukraine or new political figure?
For several days, Volodymyr Zelenskyy effectively held a public casting call for the position of the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Amid protests outside the Office of the President, where demonstrators were chanting their demands, he held a series of meetings with representatives of the military command.
After each such conversation, the President’s social media accounts were updated with photographs and intriguing posts about ‘hearing reports’ and ‘discussing key issues’, fuelling speculation about who would lead the Ukrainian armed forces. On Tuesday, the names most frequently mentioned were those of Mykhailo Drapatyi, Oleh Apostol, Andrii Biletskyi and Ihor Obolenskyi. There were also suggestions that Zelenskyy would, after all, keep Oleksandr Syrskyi in post for at least a month – until the Verkhovna Rada resumes its work and votes for a new defence minister. But late in the evening, the president announced his final decision: Major-General Mykhailo Drapatyi is to become the new Commander-in-Chief. He is a combat commander who earned his reputation not in offices, but on the battlefield. His biography contains many remarkable chapters. Right at the start of the war, on 9 May 2014, as commander of the 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 72nd Brigade, he led the legendary breakthrough in an armoured personnel carrier through a separatist checkpoint in Mariupol. This episode became something of a ‘calling card’ for the young officer. This was followed by heavy fighting and trials, including the evacuation of his unit’s fighters from the Izvaryne encirclement. With the outbreak of full-scale war, Drapatyi commanded in the most challenging sectors of the front, and later headed the Land Forces and commanded the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Following his appointment, the new Commander-in-Chief himself described serving Ukraine as an honour and emphasised the responsibility he was taking on in this role. He subsequently outlined the tasks he had received from the President: to continue and intensify offensive operations, to plan new operations behind enemy lines, to develop the military and its technology, and to build up the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
What does Mykhailo Drapatyi’s appointment to this post mean, what changes are expected of him, and what problems and challenges will he face? "Censor.NET" decided to ask military officials and MPs, in particular members of the relevant parliamentary committee, about this. Some of the MPs from the "Servant of the People" faction whom we approached did not respond to our enquiries. Some flatly refused to comment on the appointment, explaining that they were unwilling to make public assessments. Whether this is due to self-censorship, being on holiday or other reasons is difficult to say. Those MPs who agreed to speak shared their views.
"DRAPATYI IS AN EXCELLENT OFFICER AND COMMANDER WITH A STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY"
Mykyta Poturaev, a Member of Parliament from the "Servant of the People" faction, welcomed the President’s decision:
- This is good news. I hope the situation will sort itself out, and that the people planning to take to the streets again on Friday will see the full picture. Perhaps then they will decide that enough is enough and stop protesting on the streets. But they had every right to have their say, and the authorities, in turn, had a duty to listen to them. That’s a good thing. Although it’s a pity that events unfolded in this way. However, we do understand that everyone is under a great deal of stress – both society and the President. Mistakes are being rectified, which is a positive sign for everyone.
I had high hopes and was almost convinced that the appointment of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief would be a well-considered one. After all, the President usually makes the right decisions in difficult situations. In reality, the choice, whilst a good one, was limited. Drapatyi was among my personal favourites, but I won’t say where he ranked, because they are all worthy generals. We have a systemic problem here, as there could have been more of them in this ‘pool’. But, unfortunately, such a long history of conflict between the old-style army (which, in certain respects, is not bad) and the new officer corps has held back the advancement of those majors who could have been colonels, and those colonels who could certainly already have been brigadier generals. I know some of them personally. Consequently, this has meant that the pool of candidates is smaller than it could have been.
I hope that the new Commander-in-Chief, together with the new Chief of the General Staff – about whom I have also heard many positive things – will make a good team. Drapatyi is an excellent officer and commander with a keen sense of responsibility. Perhaps this will prove to be a problem for him, as he feels a very strong sense of personal responsibility for the people, the decisions and the events unfolding. Although I consider this to be an extremely positive trait. It is very good that he possesses it.
The situation has developed in such a way that we have reached a common consensus: everyone is convinced that there is virtually no chance that russia will enter into genuine negotiations before the elections to the so-called state duma. We also realise that, following these elections, the russian federation will announce a mass mobilisation. Consequently, shortly afterwards, there will be massive ‘meat’ attacks across all our fronts. And here, an important factor is that, due to points of conflict which Mykhailo Fedorov did not wish to make public, we have, to some extent, lost time in the reform process. Had the reform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine proceeded more swiftly, the new army would now make up the majority of our forces, rather than the old one. I believe that only a new-model army – consisting precisely of these people – will be able to repel this extremely dangerous, almost inevitable Russian ‘meat’ invasion. I am not a military man, but as a political scientist I see signs that this invasion may indeed be the last. If we repel them in October–December, that will be the end of them for good. Although that sounds rather optimistic at the moment. But a difficult autumn lies ahead of us. It will be very difficult for the army to fight. I would like it to enter this period in high spirits, for as many units as possible to have already experienced the new style of command, and for our lads and lasses to be equipped by then with the latest weapons – which, in fact, Mykhailo Fedorov was trying to procure for the army as much as possible.
How might the fact that we have an acting Minister of Defence affect the situation? It changes nothing in the coming weeks. There’s no tragedy in this. Here’s the background. There are several generals from outside the army – which, incidentally, is to some extent their advantage – Budanov, Maliuk and Khmara. These are people who have reformed their own services. Our Main Intelligence Directorate (DIU), as an organisation, has been modernised and is no longer a post-Soviet military intelligence service. It is definitely part of the modern, new Ukrainian army. The same goes for the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), which includes ‘Alfa’ – a unit that has long since become something far greater than just a centre. These are all state-of-the-art units with new approaches and technologies. They carry out operations whose results we are not always even aware of. These generals fully understand the importance of re-equipping the army and transitioning it to modern solutions. Each of them could make an excellent Minister of Defence. That is why I see no problem whatsoever with the appointment of Yevhen Khmara as acting minister. He is an officer who knows exactly how to fight effectively, what needs to be procured, and so on. That is an advantage. But the problem is that there are issues with the team. Because Mykhailo Fedorov arrived with a core team that he subsequently expanded. And the key to success, especially in a structure such as the Ministry of Defence, is precisely the presence of a team. Therefore, should President Khmara be nominated for this post, there are two options: either Fedorov’s team will be retained in part (preferably the larger part), or he will begin to form his own. But in that case, continuity with his predecessors must be ensured. It is important that reforms within the Ministry of Defence do not come to a standstill. Because there is very little time.
"WE MUST THANK EVERYONE WHO TOOK TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST"
Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a Member of Parliament from the "Voice" faction, also views Drapatyi’s appointment positively:
- It’s very good that this has happened. Drapatyi’s appointment is a victory for the people who took to the streets. The President had little choice but to act this way. We must thank everyone who took part in the protests. A huge thank you to them.
Could he become a rival to Zelenskyy in the elections? Ukrainians won’t elect a military man as the next president. That’s unrealistic. He could be a worthy member of the president’s team. Someday, when there are elections. But for that to happen, he needs to be a formidable Commander-in-Chief. I think he’ll be given the chance to do a good job in this role. And why not?! Politics is politics, with all its nuances, but this is first and foremost about responsibility. I don’t think anyone will stand in his way or, conversely, help him. If he delivers results – great. If not – he’ll be replaced. It’s all quite clear here.
To be honest, I don’t know how he’ll cope with the challenges facing him – mobilisation, logistics, rotations and so on. But I’m convinced that, as with everything, there’s a suitable solution to every problem. It’s difficult. But I hope he has plenty of strengths that will help him pull this off.
As for the Commander-in-Chief's interaction with the Ministry of Defence, the fact that the Defence Minister is acting in an interim capacity will have an impact here. This matters when there is no permanent head. But still, it’s clear that they have a good personal relationship. This personal connection could help. I think a vote on the appointment of the Defence Minister will take place in August. Will the President nominate Khmara for this post? We’ll be able to say after Friday, when we see how this situation with the mass gatherings unfolds.
"NOW WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE"
Former MP and military officer Ihor Lutsenko, on the other hand, believes that the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief could become a rival to Zelenskyy in future elections:
- We’ll definitely have another presidential candidate now. This is down to the current political climate, not the individual himself. In our country, any Commander-in-Chief automatically becomes a candidate. To put it lightly, all you need to do is smile enigmatically, and people will already love you. Seriously, though, Syrskyi was the exception here, as he is the most private of all the generals. If we’re talking about military leadership, we’ll have to wait and see. Everything is determined by the personnel in specific areas and their responses to crisis situations. Overall, our army and its leadership really need personnel turnover. The old guard needs to be replaced, because the nature of the war itself has changed. The more of this turnover there is, the better.
I’ve known Drapatyi since the days of the ATO. We met back then, but didn’t speak much. He strikes me as a positive person, a good commander – in that respect, he’s more like Zaluzhnyi. Why did Zelenskyy choose him specifically out of all the candidates? It’s hard to get inside the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s head to find that out. If one were to look for some political logic here, perhaps this choice was made because Drapatyi’s name was being mentioned at rallies. So they decided: let’s throw the protesters a ‘bone’, but we won’t reinstate Fedorov as minister after all, despite their demands. In other words, this appointment is a signal to the ‘cardboard Maidan’ that their methods are working, they have power, and that they mustn’t stop, because there’s a decent chance of success.
It is difficult to say at this stage what Drapatyi’s first steps will be. Everything will be determined empirically. But now any Commander-in-Chief will have to make an effort to ensure he is not seen as a ‘butcher’ or a retrograde. Because society’s demand for technological expertise and reform is so great that the absence of these qualities in the Commander-in-Chief will reflect badly not only on him, but also on Zelenskyy.
As for the Ministry of Defence, there’s an interesting story there too. An acting minister is in charge for a few weeks at most. Therefore, the main prospect for change will be determined by who becomes the permanent appointee. I don’t think Zelenskyy has any intention of keeping Khmara. Not to mention that we actually have legislation that must be respected – at the very least, laws should be amended to accommodate the decisions you intend to implement, rather than being flouted. We’ll see how this issue is resolved.
"WE HAVE HOPE AND FAITH THAT THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE ARE IN TRUSTWORTHY HANDS"
Mykola Kolesnyk, commander of the 422nd Separate ‘Luftwaffe’ Unmanned Systems Regiment, is also personally acquainted with Mykhailo Drapatyi:
- Let me tell you a story. When the Kherson operation ended, our permanent base was located in the Kryvyi Rih City Council building. And there was a moment when we were just about to leave: we were carrying things in and out. General Drapatyi came out of the building. I introduced myself and gave a brief report. He said the unit had done a fine job and that he’d seen our work. He asked if we’d been awarded any honours. I said, ‘No.’ He replied, ‘Here’s a phone number. Give them a call, submit a recommendation, and I’ll issue the order.’ He asked who exactly should be awarded. I replied: "Absolutely everyone who was here worked hard. So either everyone, or no one. But in any case, that’s not the main thing." He said: "No, wait! You’re the commander – you know best. Nominate everyone." We submitted the nominations, and these were the first awards we received for our work on the Kherson and Mykolaiv fronts – the ‘Steel Crosses’. I believe that this was, first and foremost, a sign of respect for our then-small team, shown directly by the OSGT Commander.
As for the previous team, which was active until recently, I’ll say this: I’d like to thank both the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of the General Staff. We were operating in the sector when General Hnatov was in command of the ‘Zaporizhzhia’ Operational-Tactical Group. I communicated with him directly. He played a direct role in the creation of our separate battalion, which is now a regiment. I am very grateful that he recognised our potential and supported us.
From the appointment of the new Commander-in-Chief, I expect that the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be strengthened, there will be further development, the Armed Forces will become more robust, and, most importantly, the technological component will be enhanced. We need to build on the experience we already have. But I realise that we face serious challenges. Overcoming them is no easy task. Only with time will it be possible to make any assessments. For now, we must carry out our duties in our respective areas of responsibility – every battalion, regiment and corps. We are working on it. I am confident that General Drapatyi’s experience will be sufficient to build up the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Defence Forces. We have hope and faith that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are in safe hands, and that their finest traditions and achievements will only be further enhanced.
I shall refrain from commenting on the tasks set for the Commander-in-Chief by the President. We have our own tasks, each in our respective roles, which we are carrying out. If any issues arise, we refer them to the senior command for resolution. My area of responsibility is the 422nd Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment, which I have the honour of commanding. And I believe that the existing chain of command will, at the very least, be maintained and improved. As for the President’s instruction that we do everything possible to ensure success on the battlefield, I wholeheartedly welcome and support it.
"THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE MAY HAVE "A BREATH OF FRESH AIR"
Yehor Firsov, a former MP and officer in the "Kraken 1654" unmanned systems regiment of the Third Army Corps, first heard of Mykhailo Drapatyi at the start of the full-scale war in 2023:
- At the time, my brigade commander was explaining something to me quite passionately and, whilst criticising another commander, said: ‘He’s not like Drapatyi, who grabbed an RPG himself and fired it at a column of tanks.’ I remembered that, even though I didn’t know who he was talking about at the time. In general, I know dozens of servicemen who have crossed paths with Drapatyi since 2014. He is probably one of the few commanders about whom people speak highly and say almost nothing negative. He was always in those contexts and came into contact with a large number of military personnel, either in combat or in the field conditions. That’s important. Many of those who know him say that he clearly understands the needs of both the platoon and the individual soldier in the trench. That is the most important point. What is missing from the debate surrounding the Minister of Defence and the Commander-in-Chief? A focus on the front line, on the soldiers. They are the ‘cells of our body’ that hold the front line. Drapatyi surely knows and understands exactly what they need.
Secondly, he has vast experience, dating back to 2014 and culminating in his command of the Land Forces, as well as that ‘helicopter view’ – a strategic outlook. But he needs the tools to drive this strategy forward. That is to say, mobilisation resources and the necessary equipment, ranging from drones to aircraft, artillery and so on. He also needs a certain degree of institutional and political influence. In other words, his powers must not be curtailed; he must not be restricted, for example, by deputies who might be imposed on him. He must be allowed to get on with his work. Only then will the person in this post be able to perform to the best of their ability. If, on the other hand, his powers are curtailed, with pressure from those same politicians, of course, this will lead to nothing good. But overall, I would say that my impression of Drapatyi is positive. This appointment now gives hope that the Armed Forces may experience a ‘breath of fresh air’ – that is, certain processes that had been stalled will now move in the right direction.
What are the top priorities and challenges facing the new Commander-in-Chief? Mobilisation (its form and methods), provision of drones and ammunition (without any changes), completion of the reform of the corps system, rotation and the form of demobilisation that was promised. Work needs to be done on the recent scandals within units, such as in ‘Skelia’, to establish what actually happened there and what is required to prevent such incidents from recurring. Personnel must be utilised correctly – changes must be implemented to prevent this negative selection process from occurring, at both the rank-and-file and command levels. We must continue the initiative to recruit foreign nationals into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – Colombians, Argentinians and so on. Special oversight is also required regarding the deployment of UGVs on the battlefield. Their numbers are growing, and kill zone is expanding. It is vital that high-quality and serviceable equipment reaches the front line, rather than equipment that units have to spend months refurbishing.
Olha Moskaliuk, "Censor.NET"
