Zelenskyy Appoints Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi to Lead Ukraine's Ground Forces

Nov 29, 2024, 03:19 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, replacing Oleksandr Pavliuk who had served since February 11, 2024. Drapatyi, known for his combat experience, played significant roles in the defense of Kharkiv in 2024, stopping Russian offensive operations, and was instrumental in the 2022 Kherson offensive. His appointment comes as Ukraine faces ongoing military challenges, including manpower shortages and Russian advances in the east. Zelenskyy also appointed Colonel Oleh Apostol, commander of the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This leadership change is part of Zelenskyy's strategy to implement internal changes within the Ukrainian military to achieve the country's goals. Zelenskyy stated, 'The Ukrainian army needs internal changes to achieve our state's goals in full.'