Latest news with #MykhailoDrapatyi
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskiy appoints new commander of Ukraine's land forces
(Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday appointed Hennadiy Shapovalov as commander of Ukraine's land forces, replacing a commander who resigned over a Russian strike on a training area. Shapovalov, whose appointment was announced in a presidential decree, had previously acted as a liaison at a NATO coordination centre in Germany. Before that, he had served as commander of the forces of the Operational Command South. Zelenskiy, speaking later in his nightly video address, said Shapovalov's experience in working with NATO would be put to good use in introducing changes in Ukraine's forces. "All this useful experience of this coordination and all the real combat experience of our soldiers must be applied now within Ukraine's land forces," he said. "Changes are needed and this is an imperative." Shapovalov takes over as head of land forces from Mykhailo Drapatyi, who tendered his resignation this month after a deadly Russian strike on a training camp in southeastern Ukraine. Zelenskiy reassigned Drapatyi to the post of commander of the joint forces as part of a military shakeup.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's outgoing ground forces chief says his command was mired in 'managerial stagnation' when he joined
The outgoing chief of Ukraine's land troops says he initially found his officers stuck in "stagnation." Mykhailo Drapatyi, 42, took command in November as Kyiv urgently sought reform among its ranks. His complaints of an "atmosphere of fear" and other issues echo frustrations in Ukraine's military. The outgoing chief of Ukraine's ground forces said on Wednesday that his command was in a "state of managerial stagnation" when he first took his post in November. Writing on social media on Wednesday, Mykhailo Drapatyi listed a slew of issues he discovered last year, including an "atmosphere of fear, lack of initiative, closure to feedback, indifference to personnel problems, a facade of discipline, a deep gap between headquarters and units." Drapatyi wrote that he replaced half of the leaders under him, slamming what he said was systematic abuse, staffing decisions based on connections, and chaos within the officer ranks. "There was not even a trace of a developmental spirit in command," Drapatyi added. The remarks from Drapatyi, who led Kyiv's land forces for roughly six months, reflect an oft-discussed frustration in Ukraine's military that it was thrown into war with an outdated structure and culture that cleaved to old Soviet habits. Ukraine has urgently tried to initiate changes as it battles Russia on its own borders. Drapatyi, a 42-year-old general, was appointed command in November as part of a younger wave of leaders aimed at facilitating reform. "I worked to break this system," he wrote on Wednesday. Drapatyi said one of his focuses was reshaping Ukraine's training divisions, which he said also saw half of its leading officers removed. Additionally, the general said he had to bring digitalization to training management and logistics systems, and introduced "psychological support tools" for soldiers. "The Command of the Ground Forces is only at the beginning of change. A system does not change in a few months, but the vector has already been set, the team assembled, and the approaches revised," he added. Drapatyi stepped down from his post on June 1 in the aftermath of a Russian strike on a Dnipro training ground that killed 12 Ukrainians. While announcing his resignation, Drapatyi blamed himself for the deaths of the soldiers, calling them young Ukrainians who were "supposed to learn, live, fight— not die." "The behavior of fighters matters, but the main responsibility always lies with the command," he wrote. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy summoned Drapatyi for a meeting on June 3, after which the latter was reassigned to the commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine, another military branch that reports to the General Staff. Zelenskyy said that in his new role, Drapatyi would focus "exclusively on combat issues." Shortly after Zelenskyy's announcement, Drapatyi wrote that he would "remain in the ranks" and take on the new position assigned by the president. "I am stepping down with a clear conscience," he wrote on Wednesday. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Drapatyi ends tenure as Ground Forces chief, says he leaves with 'clear conscience'
Mykhailo Drapatyi said on June 11 that he had concluded his six-month tenure as commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, summarizing his accomplishments and stating that he is leaving with "a clear conscience." Drapatyi submitted his resignation on June 1, following a deadly Russian missile strike that killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers at a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, saying the victims were young recruits who "should have learned, lived, and fought — not died." President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed him as commander of the Joint Forces on June 3, two days after the incident. The Ground Forces said the same day that an investigation was underway and pledged accountability if negligence or misconduct is found. In his statement, Drapatyi described the state of the Ground Forces at the time of his appointment on Nov. 29, 2024 as mired in "managerial stagnation," defined by fear, lack of initiative, and detachment from frontline units. "Systemic abuse, personnel decisions based on connections, low internal organization," he wrote. "The command is gradually shifting from a culture of fear to a culture of responsibility." Drapatyi said he had replaced over half of the Ground Forces' leadership in key functions and had begun reforms aimed at decentralization, accountability, and professionalism. Under his leadership, the military launched a revamp of recruitment centers, aiming to eliminate corruption and increase transparency in mobilization. Drapatyi also oversaw a partial overhaul of the army's training and staffing systems. New leadership was introduced in the drone, cyber, and electronic warfare units amid a wave of broader reforms. "Decisions are made not on the basis of status or loyalty, but on the basis of analysis, results, and respect for subordinates," Drapatyi said. "Grassroots initiatives ceased to be a threat and began to become a resource." Zelensky said on June 3 that Drapatyi's new role would focus "exclusively on combat issues." Read also: Ukraine's SBU releases fresh video of Operation Spiderweb, teases 'new surprises' We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Russian missile strike hits Ukrainian Ground Forces training unit in Poltava Oblast: injuries reported
Russian forces launched a missile strike on one of the training units belonging to the Ukrainian Ground Forces in Poltava Oblast on Wednesday 4 June. Source: Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram Details: The command reports that the strike has left personnel injured. At the time of the attack, military personnel were at the training ground, undertaking training tasks. Quote: "Thanks to timely security measures, including the dispersal of personnel, the use of shelters and adherence to protocols during an air raid, a large number of casualties were prevented." Details: A special commission has been established to investigate the circumstances of the incident and assess the damage. Its findings will be unveiled upon completion of the investigation. Background: On 1 June, Russian troops launched a missile strike on a training unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 60. Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, resigned that same day due to the tragedy, noting that as commander, he had been unable to fully ensure that his orders were carried out. Subsequently, Drapatyi had stated that he would remain in service, as he had spoken with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and received an assignment from him. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Russia strikes Ukrainian military training facility in Poltava Oblast, military says
Russia launched a missile attack against a military training facility in Poltava Oblast on June 4, resulting in injuries among the personnel, the Ground Forces' press service reported. "Thanks to timely and carefully planned security measures... the worst has been avoided," the press service said, saying that no soldiers have been killed in the attack against the central region, which lies about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Kyiv. The strike follows a string of Russian attacks against Ukrainian military facilities across Ukraine. A deadly missile strike on a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on June 1 killed at least 12 soldiers and led to the resignation of then-Ground Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi, who was later appointed the commander of the Joint Forces. The casualties sustained in Russian attacks deep in the rear sparked backlash, with military leadership facing criticism for failing to provide adequate security for soldiers and recruits. Security protocols, including dispersal of personnel and the use of shelters, "saved the lives of service members who were at the training facility at the time of the strike" on June 4, the Ground Force said. "Unfortunately, there are wounded. All victims are receiving care in specialized medical institutions." The press service did not specify the number of victims or the exact location of the targeted military facility. A special commission has been established to clarify the circumstances of the attack and the resulting damage, according to the statement. Read also: In western Ukraine, ethnic Romanians grapple with war, identity, and displacement We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
