Zelensky Appoints Drapatyi, Known for Halting Russian Offensives, as Ground Forces Commander

Nov 29, 2024, 03:28 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed 42-year-old Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, replacing General Oleksandr Pavliuk, who had served since February 11, 2024. Drapatyi is recognized for his role in organizing the defense in the Kharkiv region in 2024, where he successfully halted a Russian offensive. He is also famed for commanding 'the flying IFV' during the Ukrainian forces' recapture of Mariupol in 2014, symbolizing the city's liberation. The appointment comes as Zelensky stated, 'The Ukrainian army needs internal changes to achieve our state's goals in full.'