Budanov on Ukraine's New Military Commander: His Greatest Strength Is 'Valuing Soldiers' Lives' Former Ukrainian Chief of General Staff Serhii Salkovsky is removed, and Army Commander Mykhailo Drapatiy takes over the Ukrainian armed forces! The head of the President's Office and former director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Budanov, speaks out unusually: his most important quality is "protecting soldiers."

On July 21 local time, Zelenskyy dismissed Alexander Syrsky as Ukraine's Supreme Commander, with Mykhailo Drapatiy, previously serving as Army Commander, taking over. Following the announcement, Ukrainian President's Office head Budanov immediately made a public statement, not only highly praising Syrsky’s achievements over the past two years and a half but also expressing great expectations for the new Supreme Commander, Drapatiy. This speech also reflects the direction of future adjustments within the Ukrainian military.

Budanov stated that Zelenskyy’s recent reshuffle of the top command structure is an “extremely important” decision. The reason is simple—war continues unabated, and Russian forces will give Ukraine no breathing room. At this moment, ensuring stability in the military command system and concentrating all efforts on frontline combat is paramount.

Regarding the outgoing Syrsky, Budanov offered a very high evaluation. He specifically mentioned that Syrsky had commanded the defense of Kyiv, led the major counteroffensive in Kharkiv, and assumed leadership of the Ukrainian armed forces during the most difficult period of the war. “We fought side by side—I personally witnessed his work,” said Budanov. He emphasized that Syrsky made significant contributions to defending Ukraine.

However, what drew even more attention was Budanov’s assessment of the incoming commander, Drapatiy.

He said they have known each other for a long time. Drapatiy’s greatest trait isn’t seniority but rather “genuine understanding of the battlefield.” He can calmly assess situations and make swift decisions, and more importantly, he “values soldiers’ lives.” In Budanov’s view, the army trusts Drapatiy not because of appointments, but because he has earned the respect and recognition of troops through his battlefield accomplishments.

The phrase “valuing soldiers’ lives” has been interpreted by many Ukrainian media outlets as the most significant signal from this leadership change.

Over the past year and a half, casualties among Ukrainian troops on the front lines have kept increasing, conscription has sparked social discontent, and frontline soldiers have increasingly criticized certain commanders for focusing solely on completing missions while ignoring soldier casualties. Drapatiy, who previously served in multiple operational theaters, is widely believed to place greater emphasis on frontline unit combat effectiveness and personnel preservation, earning him a solid reputation within the military.

Budanov concluded by emphasizing that “the Ukrainian military is in reliable hands,” and publicly pledged full support from the presidential office for Drapatiy’s duties.

Notably, the U.S. New York Times previously analyzed that Zelenskyy’s dismissal of Syrsky was not merely routine personnel rotation. Behind it lie ongoing domestic protest sentiments, widespread controversy over conscription policies, and long-standing tensions and disagreements within the military leadership. As the war enters a phase of attrition, Zelenskyy clearly aims to restructure the command team to rebuild military morale, improve frontline command efficiency, and ease the strained relationship between military and political leadership.

Now, Drapatiy officially assumes command of the Ukrainian armed forces—but the challenges ahead are far from easy. Facing continuous pressure from Russian forces, difficulties in manpower replenishment, and uncertainty regarding Western aid, whether this new Supreme Commander can fulfill external expectations of being “a capable warrior who cares deeply for his soldiers” will soon be tested on the battlefield. Ukraine Leadership Changes #

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871410139570180/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.