Zelenskyy Names Mykhailo Drapatyi as the New Commander-in-Chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that General Oleksandr Syrskyi is no longer the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and will be replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi. The decision was made by Zelenskyy, the acting Minister of Defense Yevhen Khmara, and the advisor and former commander of 93rd Mechanized Brigade, Pavlo Palisa.

However, according to TSN journalist Andriy Kiriyenko, the leadership change has yet to be formally completed. Under Ukrainian law, Syrskyi must first be officially dismissed by the defense minister before the president can finalize the move by decree.

Kiriyenko noted that following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the acting defense minister does not have the legal authority to submit Syrskyi’s dismissal under Ukraine’s Law on National Security. A new defense minister must first be approved by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament. Lawmakers are currently in recess until August 18, although Zelenskyy has the authority to recall parliament for an extraordinary session to consider the appointment.