Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for Ukraine’s New Military Commander Just Hours After Appointment

July 22, 2026 Mykhailo Drapatyi. @V_Zelenskiy_official / Telegram Russian law enforcement authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the newly appointed commander of Ukraine’s armed forces, Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, state media reported late Tuesday. The Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted database lists Drapatyi without explicitly specifying the new charges against him, according to the news agency RIA Novosti. Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top investigative body, previously charged Drapatyi in 2023 over allegations involving the casualties of 154 people in eastern Ukraine under his command between 2017 and 2019. The arrest warrant appeared just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed General Oleksandr Syrskyi and named Drapatyi as his replacement. The leadership shake-up followed days of public street protests triggered by the earlier removal of Mykhailo Fedorov from his post as defense minister. Drapatyi has fought Russian forces for over a decade. He first gained national fame in 2014 during fighting in Donbas when he ordered his armored vehicle to smash through a blockade in Mariupol to rescue besieged police officers. Later that year, he successfully led an encircled unit out of Russian-controlled territory. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Drapatyi was repeatedly deployed to stabilize critical sectors of the front. In mid-2024, he halted a Russian offensive near Kharkiv and helped hold the frontline, subsequently becoming the youngest-ever commander of the Ukrainian land forces, one of the most senior posts in the Ukrainian army. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Ukraine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Strike in Donbas Wounds 30, Russia Accused of Chemical Attacks International law prohibits the use of white phosphorus shells in heavily populated civilian areas, but allows them in open spaces to be used as cover... More Than 800 Detained in Ukraine Protests Across Russia Some of the riot police had the letter "Z" in the colors of the Russian flag on their helmets. Nine Killed by Bombing in Southern City of Mykolaiv: Regional Governor Mykolaiv, a city of around 500,000 which lies on the road to Odessa around 100 kilometers (62 miles) away, has been under attack by Russian troops for... Russian Forces Squeeze Kyiv, as ‘Unimaginable’ Tragedy Looms in Ukraine More than two weeks after Moscow shocked the world by invading Ukraine, the United Nations and others said it may be committing war crimes.