Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
France 24
France 24
Politics
FRANCE 24

Ukrainians welcome new army chief but seek return of fired defence minister

Ukraine's Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty is shown during a meeting with Ukraine's President in Kyiv.
Ukraine's Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapaty is shown during a meeting with Ukraine's President in Kyiv on July 20, 2026. © AFP

Ukraine's soldiers and civilians welcomed the appointment of Mykhailo Drapaty as the new army chief on Wednesday, but many said they still wanted former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov restored after his surprise removal sparked the largest war-related protests since Russia's 2022 invasion.

Ukrainian soldiers and civilians told AFP on Wednesday they welcomed the appointment of Mykhailo Drapaty as the new army commander in the fifth year of Russia's invasion, and said they were still hoping for the return of popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.