Ukrainian Armed Forces mark 100 days under Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi

Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi marked 100 days as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in late October, as Ukrainian forces continue to regain ground in northern Donetsk Oblast and prepare defensive positions for winter. Drapatyi, appointed in July after President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed his predecessor Oleksandr Syrskyi, was tasked with delivering reforms to an overstretched army.

Since taking command, Drapatyi has ordered an audit of personnel use and paused further replenishments to the largest assault regiments until the review is complete. The 425th Assault Regiment was reassigned to the National Guard’s 1st Azov Corps, while the 225th now operates under the Air Assault Forces’ 7th Corps. He also placed the 3rd Army Corps and 1st Azov Corps at the core of the defence of the “fortress belt” in Donetsk.

New senior appointments include deputy commander-in-chief Serhii Sobko, Ground Forces commander Sviatoslav Zaiets and Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi as head of the Marines. According to Lt. Col. Bohdan Krotevych, former chief of staff of the Azov Brigade, Drapatyi has built a strong working relationship with President Zelensky and Defence Minister Yevhen Khmara, which is crucial for implementing reforms.

Drapatyi’s command style combines centralized intent with decentralized execution. He has given frontline commanders greater autonomy to decide on defensive measures and counter-attacks, reducing the practice of “garrison-style” inspections. > "Drapatyi is not afraid of competition; on the contrary, he allows his subordinate teams to flourish, which is a good thing," Krotevych said. > "I will exercise command through intent, delegate authority where appropriate, demand accountability at every level, and expect every commander to show initiative," Drapatyi wrote in a September manifesto.

Analysts note that some units, particularly in Kharkiv Oblast, have seen limited impact from the changes, citing a lack of new force groupings. Nevertheless, commanders such as Colonel Oleh Romanov of the 21st Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment praise Drapatyi’s accessibility and focus on preserving troops.

Looking ahead, Drapatyi faces a potential renewed Russian offensive in the fortress belt, uncertainty over continued U.S. military assistance, and the need to further shift the army away from a Soviet-style command culture. Ongoing reforms aim to adopt NATO-standard training and after-action reviews, while maintaining a careful relationship with the President’s Office to avoid political friction.