Ukraine on Wednesday pressed on with its fight against Russia's invasion under new military leadership after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, facing public pressure, removed his commander-in-chief as part of a wider government reshuffle. The changes followed days of political turmoil over a rift between the outgoing army chief and the defence minister, at a time when Ukraine said it had made significant progress in the war this year.

The top-level moves, announced late on Tuesday, were meant to draw a line under almost a week of unrest that also prompted rejoicing in Russia. Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, was named the new army chief, and Zelenskyy said he and other commanders must present an updated defence strategy, including continued reform of the corps system, faster weapon and drone deliveries, stronger air defence against Russian strikes and a clearer mobilisation plan.

Drapatyi belongs to a new generation of Ukrainian generals who rose through the ranks during the battle against Russian aggression. He became known for his daring and courage in 2014, when Russia seized and illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, eight years before Moscow's full-scale invasion.

Zelenskyy also met separately on Tuesday with outgoing defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, a 35-year-old entrepreneur credited with quickly developing Ukraine's drone technology, which has given the country an edge on the battlefield. Fedorov had clashed with outgoing commander-in-chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, a 60-year-old veteran trained in the Soviet Union before Ukraine's independence.

Street protests in Kyiv and other cities demanded Fedorov's return, seeing him as a key military moderniser, and urged Zelenskyy to remove Syrskyi, who was viewed as part of the old guard. Zelenskyy offered Fedorov what he called a respected position in the government that would unify the country's technology sector, but it was not clear whether Fedorov accepted the offer or whether the latest changes would calm the protests.

Fedorov backed Drapatyi's appointment, calling it a "new hope in the fight of free people for freedom and justice" and "a voice for change that could not go unheard". Before his dismissal, Fedorov had publicly criticised Syrskyi, saying the general was blocking his reform efforts and needed to be replaced if Ukraine was not to fail in its resistance against Russia.

Syrskyi, however, defended his wartime record in a statement on Wednesday. He said Ukrainian forces had clawed back 743 square kilometres of Russian-occupied territory this year and that he was handing over an army that was not only defending but also carrying out offensive operations. His claim could not be independently verified.

Fedorov later called Syrskyi to thank him for what he described as military triumphs, including the defence of the Kyiv region during Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Kharkiv counteroffensive later that year and other battles, saying they were "already an important part of Ukraine's history". He added, however, that the country must "move even faster and write new chapters, correcting all previous mistakes".

The political crisis began last Thursday, when Zelenskyy overhauled his wartime government, replaced his prime minister and removed Fedorov after just six months in the post. The reshuffle quickly brought thousands of protesters onto the streets of Kyiv and other cities, with many portraying Fedorov's removal as Zelenskyy siding with an entrenched military old guard over a reformer.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones overnight struck two more large warehouses of Russia's major online retailer Wildberries in the southern regions of Krasnodar and Stavropol, according to Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim and Russian officials. The strikes came four days after Ukraine's long-range drones hit major Wildberries warehouses in the Moscow and Tambov regions, where officials said eight people were killed and dozens were wounded. Zelenskyy said on Saturday that the facilities were being used by Russia to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment.

The developments left Ukraine dealing at once with a sensitive political reshuffle, a change in military leadership and continuing attacks linked to the war, as Zelenskyy sought to steady the government and push ahead with the country's defence effort.

With PTI Inputs

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Published By:

India Today Web Desk

Published On:

Jul 22, 2026 13:52 IST