Ukraine's Command Shake-Up: Fedorov Out, Drapatyi In
About this episode
The episode discusses the recent shake-up in Ukraine's military leadership and its implications for the war effort.
On July 15th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed now–former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, one of the architects of Ukraine’s technological transformation on the battlefield. His abrupt dismissal sparked protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, with demonstrators calling for the removal of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, whose more traditional approach to the war had increasingly clashed with Fedorov’s vision. Days later, Zelenskyy dismissed Syrskyi as well, replacing him with Mykhailo Drapatyi—a respected frontline commander who represents a younger generation of officers shaped by the war with Russia since 2014. The changes come during a time when Ukraine has regained some battlefield momentum, raising hopes that Kyiv may accelerate both military reform and offensive operations. The shake-up also raises broader questions about Ukraine’s wartime leadership. What does it reveal about civil-military relations and competing visions for how Ukraine should fight? Could the political fallout fuel calls for elections? And what might these leadership changes mean for the future course of the war? To answer these questions and more, we are excited to welcome…
People in this episode
Guests: Melinda Haring, Ambassador Bill Taylor
Topics covered
- Ukraine military leadership
- civil-military relations
- political implications of leadership changes
- Ukrainian war strategy
- technological transformation in warfare
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Atlantic Council, Center for a New American Security
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