Lieutenant General Apty Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces and deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, has sharply criticized Ukraine’s newly appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, who took office in July.

According to Alaudinov, the identity of Ukraine’s commander is of little importance to Russian troops on the front line. However, he argued that the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have become noticeably more cynical since Drapatyi assumed command.

The Russian general linked this period to an increase in drone attacks on Russian territory, including strikes targeting locations where civilians and children were present. Based on this, he described Drapatyi as an extreme nationalist and a Russophobe.

Drapatyi’s appointment followed a major leadership dispute within Ukraine’s military and political establishment. On July 14, Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed as defense minister. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the decision stemmed from a conflict between Fedorov and then Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

At the same time, Ukrainian politicians and media suggested additional reasons for the dismissal. They claimed Fedorov enjoyed support from liberal Western circles seeking greater influence over Ukraine’s military affairs, while his growing political profile and popularity also made him a potential rival to Zelensky.

Following Fedorov’s removal, protests broke out across Ukraine demanding his reinstatement and the dismissal of Syrskyi. On the sixth day of demonstrations, Zelensky replaced the commander-in-chief, appointing Drapatyi on July 22.

Despite the leadership change, the protests continued, with demonstrators maintaining their demand that Fedorov be returned to his former position.