Ukraine’s new military chief vows to intensify strikes inside Russia

Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, Ukraine's newly appointed commander-in-chief, said on Wednesday he has been tasked by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with intensifying offensive operations and planning new strikes behind enemy lines, as he formally assumed command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A New Generation Takes Command

Drapatyi, 43, replaced General Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, following days of nationwide protests that pressured Zelenskyy into the biggest military leadership shake-up since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The appointment was announced on Tuesday, July 21, after what Ukrainska Pravda described as six days of demonstrations demanding a change in military leadership.Ukrainska Pravda+2

"The president of Ukraine has given us clear tasks: to continue and intensify offensive operations across all domains, plan new operations behind enemy lines, develop the military and its technologies, and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Drapatyi said as he began his duties on Wednesday.Ukrainska Pravda+1

Reuters described Drapatyi as "a general of a new generation" who led Ukraine's ground forces from 2024 to 2025 before commanding the Joint Forces. Russia placed Drapatyi on its wanted list within hours of the announcement, according to the Russian Interior Ministry's database.Internazionale+2

Deep-Strike Campaign Accelerates

Drapatyi's appointment comes as Ukraine's long-range drone campaign has reached unprecedented scale. According to Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, deep strikes inside Russian operational and strategic territory increased by 1,150% since the start of 2026.RBC-Ukraine+1

In June alone, Ukrainian drone units carried out 2,359 deep-strike missions targeting sites 500 to 2,000 kilometers behind the front line, hitting 172 military-industrial and fuel-and-energy facilities. The force also conducted 3,406 middle-strike missions and 2,747 front-strike missions, with operators reportedly hitting a Russian target every 52 seconds.UNITED24 Media

Pressures Facing the New Commander

Drapatyi inherits a complex battlefield. While Ukraine's drone advantage has grown, Russian forces have continued to make territorial gains in the Donetsk region. The Straits Times reported that Drapatyi takes charge "at a time of growing social and political tensions over Ukraine's wartime leadership". As of Wednesday afternoon, the formal presidential decree appointing him had not yet been published on the president's website, according to Ukrainska Pravda.youtube+2