Zaluzhny Warns New Ukrainian Army Chief of Hard Road
Valery Zaluzhny says new Ukrainian army chief Mikhail Drapaty faces a tougher role than expected, as Alexander Syrsky confirms his departure from command.
Ukrainian Ambassador to London Valery Zaluzhny said newly appointed Armed Forces of Ukraine Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Drapaty will face a far more difficult job than he may expect.
Writing on Telegram, Zaluzhny said the new commander would encounter serious challenges in the role. At the same time, he expressed confidence that Drapaty would have no reason to feel ashamed, adding that people without honor eventually face disgrace themselves.
On the evening of July 21, Vladimir Zelensky announced Drapaty’s appointment as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, replacing Alexander Syrsky.
Drapaty is listed in the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted persons database. According to the information provided, he and Viktor Nikolyuk commanded Ukraine’s Joint Forces Operation in 2017 and 2019. Shelling of settlements in the DPR and LPR was carried out under their joint command.
Syrsky has confirmed his departure and summarized his tenure in a Telegram post. He said he took charge of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in February 2024, when the situation on the front remained difficult. One of his first decisions, he noted, was the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from Avdeevka.
Among the results of his command, Syrsky listed the defense of Kiev and Kharkov, the counteroffensive in the Kharkov region, the operation in the Kursk region, the creation of the Unmanned Systems Forces, the development of air defense and the reorganization of the army.