Ukraine’s new command team faces its first three tests

Lowy Institute  |  Mick Ryan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reshaped the nation's military leadership on 21 July by appointing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander-in-Chief to resolve a severe civil-military crisis. This high-stakes transition follows the dismissal of General Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov after intense internal friction threatened the war effort.

Historically, friction between civilian leaders and military commanders has repeatedly disrupted Kyiv's strategic planning and mobilization efforts. The newly formed leadership team must immediately protect and sustain front-line momentum around Kupiansk and Crimea, alongside deep-strike campaigns, while reforming the controversial “busification” recruitment system. Additionally, they must rebuild trust with Western allies to secure vital military aid and maintain the reciprocal exchange of valuable battlefield lessons. Success ultimately depends on their ability to operate as a unified civil-military partnership rather than competing power centers, especially as Moscow threatens a potential post-election mobilization to regenerate mass.

Comment

The transition to Drapatyi’s leadership represents a critical doctrinal shift from Soviet-era centralised control to NATO-style Mission Command. This structural evolution is essential for integrating Ukraine's Delta situational awareness system with rapid, decentralised front-line decision-making. Yet, this command model remains highly dependent on resolving systemic bottlenecks within the General Staff's bureaucratic procurement processes. Kyiv must ensure that tactical innovations from the Brave1 defence tech cluster are rapidly scaled without administrative friction.

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