乌克兰总统泽连斯基任命少将米哈伊洛·德拉帕蒂为乌克兰武装部队总司令[1][2]，以替代遭解职的奥列克桑德尔·瑟斯基[1][2]。现年43岁的德拉帕蒂是乌克兰自2022年俄乌全面战争以来的第三任司令员[2]。
德拉帕蒂因其在2014年对俄战争中的杰出表现而获得声誉[1]。2014年5月，时任少校的他领导第72旅一支装甲纵队进入马里乌波尔中心，救援被困的警察和领土防卫官员[1][2]。此后他长期从事作战指挥工作，2024年曾领导哈尔科夫地区防御，阻止俄罗斯新一轮进攻[1]。德拉帕蒂出生于1982年，毕业于哈尔科夫坦克兵学院[2]，并于2021年6月获英国大使颁发荣誉剑[2]。
德拉帕蒂因俄罗斯打击地面部队训练中心造成多名乌克兰士兵丧生而曾离开地面部队司令职位[1]。BBC报道称，他在Dnipropetrovsk地区训练场遭导弹击中事件中请辞，该事件造成12名士兵阵亡、60人受伤，之后被任命为联合部队司令[2]。
瑟斯基遭解职前，基辅等城市爆发大规模抗议[1]。抗议者要求恢复前国防部长费多罗夫的职位[1]。费多罗夫表示德拉帕蒂曾从瑟斯基处受到三次斥责[1]。
乌克兰分析人士米科拉·别列斯科夫指出，司令员的影响力受到多方制约[2]。他表示："战争是政府、总统府、军事供应商、对西方伙伴的依赖的结合...他面临一条棘手的路。"前乌克兰陆军司令瓦列里·扎卢日内预测德拉帕蒂将"面临非常困难的时刻，比他想象的更困难"[2]。
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi who was dismissed from the position. [1][2] Drapatyi, 43 years old and born in 1982 in Kamianets-Podilskyi in western Ukraine, has built his military reputation through a decade of combat command experience, particularly during the 2014 conflict with Russia. [1]
The appointment comes amid significant public pressure, as large-scale protests erupted in Kyiv and other cities calling for Syrskyi's removal and demanding the restoration of former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to his post. [1] Drapatyi represents a new generation of fighting military leadership and reflects Ukraine's push for military modernization. [1]
Drapatyi's most prominent early action occurred in May 2014, when as a major he led an armored column of the 72nd Brigade into central Mariupol to rescue trapped police officers and territorial defense personnel. [1][2] More recently, in 2024, he commanded the defense of the Kharkiv region, successfully repelling a new Russian offensive. [1] He also holds the distinction of receiving an honor sword from British Ambassador Melinda Simmons in June 2021. [2] Drapatyi graduated from the Kharkiv Tank Officers School in 2004. [2]
His path to the top post was not without complication. After Russian strikes on a ground forces training center in the Dnipropetrovsk region killed multiple Ukrainian soldiers, Drapatyi resigned as ground forces commander. [1] Former Defense Minister Fedorov stated that Drapatyi had received three reprimands from Syrskyi during his tenure. [1] Following the training center incident, which killed 12 soldiers and wounded 60 others according to one account, Drapatyi was subsequently appointed commander of joint forces before his elevation to commander-in-chief. [2]
Military analysts caution that Drapatyi faces substantial challenges ahead. Ukrainian analyst Mykola Bielieskov noted that "the commander has considerable influence, but the war is a combination of government, the presidential office, military suppliers, dependence on Western partners... he faces a difficult road." [2] Former Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Valery Zaluzhnyi predicted Drapatyi would encounter "very difficult times, harder than he imagines." [2]