Ukraine's New Army Chief Vows Wider Offensives as Kyiv Says It Retook 700 sq km

3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 22

Mykhailo Drapatyi, newly appointed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Ukraine would intensify offensive operations “in all domains,” including missions behind Russian lines.
700 square km of territory has been recaptured this year, Kyiv says, giving Ukraine fresh momentum as both sides step up strikes on infrastructure and logistics.
Wednesday’s Ukrainian attacks hit Wildberries warehouses in southern Russia again, while Zelenskyy also claimed strikes on an oil depot, a tanker and four “shadow fleet” cargo ships.
Russia said it struck cargo ships, fuel storage and drone warehouses around Odesa and claimed to have captured two settlements, while the Kremlin dismissed Drapatyi’s appointment as unlikely to change the front.
Patriot shortages still constrain Ukraine’s air defenses, and with peace talks stalled, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are due to meet in Manila.

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Instagram1d ago

Today, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi, officially assumed his duties – the changes have already taken place. Together with Mykhailo and Yevhenii Khmara, we determined that

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Ukraine’s July 2026 Leadership Shake-Up: Drapatyi’s Appointment, Reform Agenda, and the Future of the War with Russia

Overview

In July 2026, Ukraine underwent a major military leadership overhaul as Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi replaced Oleksandr Syrskyi as armed forces chief. This pivotal generational shift was driven by battlefield setbacks, public discontent over high casualty rates, and a strong demand for modernization and accountability. The change reflects President Zelenskyy’s readiness to adapt strategy after years of war, with calls to prioritize personnel and efficiency over costly territorial defense. Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov emphasized the need for faster progress and correcting past mistakes, highlighting a broader push for reform and a new approach to Ukraine’s defense.

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