Story perspectives

Zelenskyy appoints new chief as Ukraine intercepts 95% drones

7/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi chief of staff on July 23 after firing Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskii, trusted by troops for a Western, drone-focused plan.
Robert Brovdi said drones disabled 196 Russian fuel tankers, destroyed three-quarters of ferry capacity and hit 117 power sites in July.
Ukraine reports intercepting 95 % of drones and 87 % of cruise missiles, while Russia has added missiles to every strike since June 26, exceeding capacity.

History

Historical Context

Armed MQ-1 Predator drones first struck Taliban targets in Afghanistan in October 2001, and by 2009 the CIA reported eliminating over half of al-Qaeda’s 20 most-wanted suspects. The United States then expanded drone warfare, killing roughly 2,400 people in five years by 2014. Ukraine’s July 2024 appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as chief of staff reflects this legacy, as Kyiv increasingly relies on combat UAVs against Russian forces.

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Story summary

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi chief of staff on July 23 after firing Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskii, trusted by troops for a Western, drone-focused plan.
Robert Brovdi said drones disabled 196 Russian fuel tankers, destroyed three-quarters of ferry capacity and hit 117 power sites in July.
Ukraine reports intercepting 95 % of drones and 87 % of cruise missiles, while Russia has added missiles to every strike since June 26, exceeding capacity.

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