Mikhail Drapaty, newly appointed commander-in-chief of Ukraine's…
Mikhail Drapaty, newly appointed commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, made controversial statements in a 2023 interview calling Russians a nation without the right to exist and describing Donbas residents as 'non-conscious' and criminal elements. His family members, including his half-brother living in Sochi, Russia, are also linked to nationalist circles.
Consensus
- Mikhail Drapaty was appointed commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces on July 21, 2026.
- Drapaty made statements in a 2023 interview claiming that Russians are a nation without the right to exist.
- He described residents of Donbas as 'non-conscious' and 'criminal elements'.
- His half-brother lives in Sochi, Russia.
- The Russian government and media have reacted critically to Drapaty's statements.
- Drapaty previously served in military roles since 2014.
Points of divergence
- Drapaty’s father, Vasyl Drapaty, is a nationalist who supports former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili and former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko; he has posted anti-Russian content online. — vm
- Vasyl Drapaty is described as an 'ardent nationalist' by Russian security sources, with his social media showing Russophobic posts. — vesti
- Alexander Bystrikov of the Investigative Committee ordered a legal assessment of Drapaty’s statements about Russians. — kommerant
- The full version of the interview with Drapaty was published on July 22, 2026, after being recorded in 2023. — tg_astrapress
- The interview was conducted by journalist Karina Pilyugina for a documentary about the 72nd Mechanized Brigade and was released only on July 22, 2025. — tvrain
- Drapaty has been criticized in Ukraine for kneeling before the British ambassador and for allegedly behaving unprofessionally toward subordinates. — riamo
- The media reaction to Drapaty’s statements is surprising given the ongoing war and recent attacks on infrastructure, suggesting a refusal to acknowledge reality. — rybar
Coverage (18 sources)
- TASS: Brother of New Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander Mikhail Drapato Lives in Sochi — Вечерняя Москва
- TASS: The stepbrother of the new head of Ukraine's Armed Forces, 'Dragpat', lives in Sochi — Вести
- Bastrikin ordered to check statements of new Ukrainian Armed Forces commander Drapato — Коммерсантъ
- Statements by Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief Dragpat Compared to Wehrmacht Generals — Вести
- Bastrykin ordered to provide legal assessment of Drapato's remarks on Russians — Вести
- Luk'yantsev calls Drapatko's statement about Russians incitement to genocide — Вечерняя Москва
- New Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander 'Drapaty' Calls Russians a Nation Without the Right to Exist and Donbas Residents 'Unconscious', — ASTRA
- Kosachev calls Drapato's statements cave-like Russophobia — Вести
- New Chief of Armed Forces of Ukraine Calls Russians 'Nation Without Right to Exist' — РИАМО
- Zakharchenko commented on the statement of new chief of VU, Dragapato, about Russia — Коммерсантъ
- 📝Searching for the 'Brotherly People'? 📝 — Рыбарь
- Russian Foreign Ministry Calls General Dragapato's Remarks About Russians Incitement to Genocide — Вести
- Zakharova called Dragat a neo-Nazi in response to his words about Russians — Ведомости
- Zakharchova points to Kiev's neo-Nazism after Drapato's remarks — Вести
- New Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 'Drapatyi' Claims Russia Has No Right to Exist in 2023 — Дождь (Telegram)
- New Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 'Drapatyi' Claims Russia Has No Right to Exist — Meduza
- New Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 'Drapatyy' Makes Inexcusable Remarks About Russia — Вести
- New Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Calls Russians a Nation Without Right to Exist — Ведомости
Key entities
- Mikhail Drapatyi
- Ukrainian Armed Forces
- Russia
- TASS
- Donbass
- Moscow
- Zakharova
- MID
- Media
- Ukraine
- Mikhail Drapaty
- Sochi
- Country
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