Ukrainian troops are pinning their hopes on a new top general after losing their star defense minister
Ukraine has appointed 43-year-old Brigadier General Mykhailo Drapatyi as its new commander in chief. Troops hope his leadership will move the military away from Soviet-era command styles toward a more tech-focused and responsive strategy.
Why it matters
The leadership change reflects a critical shift in Ukraine's military strategy as it seeks to modernize its forces and improve battlefield outcomes against Russia.
Mykhailo Drapatyi was appointed Ukraine's new commander in chief on Tuesday. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP Mykhailo Drapatyi, Ukraine's new commander in chief, is one of the war's most popular generals. Troops told Business Insider they hope he'll bring changes that can help them win the war. Tired of Soviet military culture, they're asking for a leader who's pro-tech and listens to them. Anxious after the shock removal of Ukraine's reformist defense minister, the country's front-line troops say that they've 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.
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