How does a general who resigned over the deaths of 12 soldiers return a year later to lead Ukraine’s army? Meet Mykhailo Drapatyi, the new commander-in-chief.

Ukraine has a new commander-in-chief. According to Meduza, President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed General Mykhailo Drapatyi to lead the country's armed forces, replacing General Oleksandr Syrskyi, whom Zelensky dismissed amid a political crisis after the recently ousted defense minister accused Syrskyi of scheming and blocking military reforms. At forty-three, Drapatyi becomes the youngest person to hold the post in modern Ukrainian history. His path there is a striking one: just last summer he resigned as ground forces commander after twelve soldiers were killed in a Russian missile strike during exercises, publicly taking responsibility. Meduza reports that Zelensky said the two had already agreed on the military's priorities, including striking Russia's rear areas, closing Ukraine's skies to Russian attacks, and improving the mobilization system.

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