Ankara: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces. This appointment is part of a comprehensive overhaul of the military's leadership.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy shared on Telegram that he had a discussion regarding the structural changes of the General Staff with Drapatyi, acting Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa. The President expressed his gratitude to the outgoing commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi for his contributions to Ukraine's defense strategy, particularly highlighting his role in the defense of Kyiv, the Kharkiv counteroffensive, and the Kursk operation.

Zelenskyy emphasized the significant achievements under Syrskyi's command, noting the progress in Ukraine's defense efforts and the importance of respecting every soldier's service. Discussions also took place with Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov regarding the transition process and their future roles within the military framework.

The President mentioned that the appointments and other related decisions would be formalized on Tuesday, underlining Ukraine's need to strengthen its position and increase the challenges for Russia. Drapatyi, a major general with extensive experience in senior battlefield commands, previously served as commander of Ukraine's ground forces and led operations in the Kharkiv region. His leadership was notably linked to Ukraine's 2024 incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

Earlier in the month, Drapatyi was appointed as the commander of the Joint Forces, marking a significant reshuffle in the military's leadership by President Zelenskyy.