Ukrainian troops pin hopes on new top general Mykhailo Drapatyi after defense minister ousted

Anxious after the shock removal of Ukraine's reformist defense minister, the country's front-line troops say they have found some solace in a new appointment for another key war role — commander in chief.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed 43-year-old Brig. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi as the country's new top general on Tuesday.

For many in Ukraine, the appointment is a monumental shift. Drapatyi is replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi, an older general who joined the military when Ukraine was still a Soviet republic.

Syrskyi, 60, has overseen many of Ukraine's victories since early 2024 but has been widely accused of resisting change and sticking to a slower, top-down command style that can cost lives in battle.

Troops Celebrate Appointment

Ukrainian troops across the front lines celebrated Drapatyi's new appointment, telling Business Insider they anticipate the young general will quickly bring much-needed reforms that could turn the tide of the war in their favor.

One Ukrainian uncrewed ground vehicle operator told Business Insider that while he feels Syrskyi has "undoubtedly entered the history of Ukraine as the general who stopped the Russian offensive at the most difficult moment for the state," he has sincere hope "that General Mykhailo Drapatyi will go down in history as the general who won a victory over Russia."

Many see Drapatyi — who has a string of high-profile victories and a reputation for stabilizing warzones under Russian pressure — as the ideal working partner for Mykhailo Fedorov, who was defense minister until recently. Both are seen as drivers of radical change in a military structure that has dysfunctionally struggled to fully leverage innovation and exploit Russia's weaknesses.

A Commander Who Listens

"He knows how to listen and keeps his word, even when it comes to small promises," said Fizruk, until recently a strike drone company commander with the 82nd Air Assault Brigade.

The major, identified only by his call sign for security purposes, said his former drone unit fought under Drapatyi when the latter oversaw operations in Vovchansk, a city in Kharkiv. Russia launched a major offensive there in May 2024, and Drapatyi was sent to stabilize the northeastern front.

Fizruk said Drapatyi planned and executed operations "methodically and effectively," but was also personable. He remembered how the brigadier general would wear a green Ukrainian Armed Forces T-shirt to fit in with the team.

"I do have his phone number," Fizruk added.

Forward-Thinking on Technology

Other Ukrainian troops praised Drapatyi for his track record and openness to tech innovation. Social media has allowed Kyiv's forces to tune in closely to public discourse about the war, even while deployed, as civilians and soldiers alike share daily news, feedback, commentary, and scandal.

The commander of a UGV unit in the 2nd "Khartia" Corps, who goes by the call sign Mathematician, said Drapatyi was "maybe the best choice" to replace Syrskyi. He described the new commander in chief as forward-thinking in the use of ground robots.

Andriy, an enlisted soldier who runs community engagement for the 100th Mechanized Brigade's VORON combat drone unit, told Business Insider that he expected Drapatyi to employ a "more rational approach in the use of personnel."

Alex, an officer in Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, described Drapatyi as a commander who is willing to see different perspectives but with "real combat experience." He said troops respect his "vision and soft skills," predicting a morale boost.

Priorities for Success

The UGV operator who spoke to Business Insider about his hopes for victory over Russia under Drapatyi's command said that "if the new leadership can make the system more flexible, technological, and able to quickly implement effective solutions from the battlefield, this will be the main criterion for success."

He said it is "too early to assess this appointment through the prism of expectations. The war has long shown that it is not individual personalities that are decisive, but the ability of the military system to quickly adapt to new challenges."

Today, he said, "the key priorities should be to accelerate the introduction of innovations, shorten the path from combat experience to real changes in the troops, scale up unmanned and robotic systems, and provide commanders in the field with greater freedom to make quick decisions."

"Ukraine has accumulated unique combat experience," he added. "Our main advantage should be the ability to learn, adapt, and scale successful solutions faster than the enemy."

'The Dream Team'

A key trigger for Drapatyi's appointment was Fedorov's ouster.