Mikhail Drapaty, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has said that Russians are a nation that has no right to exist.

He also rejected the idea that Russia could be described as Ukraine’s neighbor. Speaking about Donbass residents, Drapaty portrayed them as a remnant of the Soviet Union, settlers and members of a criminal environment. He claimed that they were unwilling to work and were seeking handouts.

Military expert Andrey Marochko said Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to replace Alexander Syrsky with Drapaty would not fundamentally change the methods used by the Ukrainian command. In his assessment, the new army chief is likely to continue the practices employed by his predecessor.

Marochko also pointed to Drapaty’s background and military career. He described him as one of the generals who unquestioningly carry out orders from senior officials without taking the condition of their personnel into account.

Military expert Vasily Dandykin, meanwhile, suggested that the new commander-in-chief could try to establish his reputation by launching an offensive operation. He said this could take the form of either a counteroffensive or a direct advance.

Dandykin named the Chernigov direction as one possible area for such an operation. At the same time, he expressed confidence that the Ukrainian command would fail to achieve success there.

On Wednesday, July 22, Zelensky signed decrees dismissing Syrsky as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and appointing Drapaty to replace him.