Ukraine's New Army Chief Faces Crisis as Approval Ratings Plummet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj's approval ratings have dropped to 26 percent, while his dismissed defense minister remains more popular. The new army chief, Michailo Drapaty, faces immense pressure amid a crisis meeting on July 20 in a windowless room in Kyiv. The meeting, chaired by Selenskyj, addressed severe issues including the delivery of long-range artillery ammunition, various drone types, robotic systems for infantry, and modernized command structures. Both military officials and defense producers criticized the leadership for lacking a clear plan to coordinate the defense industry and armed forces. The presidential administration stated the need to create a "regular format for this kind of dialogue." The crisis atmosphere underscores the challenges Drapaty will inherit.