Mykhailo Drapatiy is wanted by the Russian Federation: what is he accused of?
The profile states that the Ukrainian military officer is wanted under an article of the Russian Criminal Code. The article number and other details are not specified in the database itself.
Information about Mykhailo Drapaty’s presence in the Russian database first appeared on 22 September 2023. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a warrant for the arrest of Ukrainian General Viktor Nikoluk. Interest in the old file was reignited after Zelenskyy announced Drapato as the future Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
What is Russia accusing Drapaty of?
In September 2023, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation brought charges in absentia against Drapaty and Nikolyuk. The Russian agency claims that the Ukrainian generals commanded military operations in eastern Ukraine in 2017 and 2019.
According to the Russian investigation, Ukrainian military personnel under their command allegedly carried out more than 70 shelling attacks on settlements in territories controlled by the illegal armed groups ‘DPR’ and ‘LPR’. Russia claims there were 154 dead and wounded.
This is a claim by the Russian side which has not been confirmed by any rulings of Ukrainian or international courts. The territories of the so-called ‘DPR’ and ‘LPR’, which are the subject of the case, are internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.
The Russian authorities have not disclosed in the wanted notice the number of the criminal offence under which Drapato is being prosecuted, nor have they provided a full list of evidence.
Is this an international wanted notice?
The report relates to the internal database of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. It does not imply that Drapato has automatically been placed on an international wanted list via Interpol.
There is no information in the Russian reports regarding the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice for the Ukrainian general. Interpol itself explains that even a Red Notice does not constitute an international arrest warrant: each state decides independently whether to respond to such a request.
Furthermore, Article 3 of the Interpol Constitution prohibits the organisation from interfering in matters of a political, military, religious or racial nature.
What is known about Drapato’s appointment
On 21 July, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had appointed Mykhailo Drapato as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The President also announced a reshuffle of the General Staff and stated that the personnel decisions were to be formalised on 22 July. At the time of writing, the decree appointing Drapaty had not yet been published on the President’s website.
Prior to this, Drapaty commanded the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in 2024–2025 he headed the Land Forces. In 2014, he commanded a battalion of the 72nd Separate Mechanised Brigade, which broke through Russian and pro-Russian barricades during the fighting for Mariupol.
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