Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Resigns Following Deadly Russian Strike
Mykhaïlo Drapaty steps down after missile attack claims lives of soldiers in Dnipropetrovsk region.
Mykhaïlo Drapaty, the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, announced his resignation on June 1, following a Russian missile strike that resulted in the deaths of at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers and injured more than 60 others.
Drapaty expressed a "personal sense of responsibility" for the casualties in a message shared on Telegram.
The strike targeted a training ground where Ukrainian military personnel were assembled, a tactic that has reportedly occurred multiple times since the onset of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
Ukrainian military officials have stated that the attack in the central Dnipropetrovsk region was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader trend of strikes against military assembly points, often situated far from the front lines.
These incidents have raised concerns among Ukrainian political and military leaders, some of whom have criticized command decisions that may have made soldiers vulnerable by gathering them in identifiable locations.
In his resignation announcement, Drapaty indicated he had sought to transform the military culture by addressing issues of secrecy and impunity he believes are detrimental to the armed forces.
He acknowledged that the recurrence of such tragedies suggests that his initiatives to instigate change were insufficient.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the attack as part of a concerning pattern but did not directly comment on Drapaty's resignation.
He expressed intentions to convene a meeting with Drapaty and other military leaders to address the ongoing security challenges.
The Ukrainian military clarified that, at the time of the attack, there were no mass gatherings or meetings occurring at the targeted site, and that the majority of soldiers had moved to a shelter after an air raid alert was issued.
An internal investigation is set to be conducted to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the strike.
The military has committed to punishing any officials found to be responsible for negligence leading to the soldiers' deaths and injuries.
This recent attack follows an earlier incident in late May, when six soldiers were killed and over ten injured in a similar strike on a training ground in the Sumy region, which borders Russia.
Previous episodes, including a March assault on a training facility more than 100 kilometers from the front lines, have also resulted in significant military casualties, with Drapaty previously condemning negligent behavior among military leaders.
Notably, a September 2024 airstrike on a military institute in Poltava resulted in nearly 60 fatalities and over 300 injuries.
Drapaty expressed a "personal sense of responsibility" for the casualties in a message shared on Telegram.
The strike targeted a training ground where Ukrainian military personnel were assembled, a tactic that has reportedly occurred multiple times since the onset of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
Ukrainian military officials have stated that the attack in the central Dnipropetrovsk region was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader trend of strikes against military assembly points, often situated far from the front lines.
These incidents have raised concerns among Ukrainian political and military leaders, some of whom have criticized command decisions that may have made soldiers vulnerable by gathering them in identifiable locations.
In his resignation announcement, Drapaty indicated he had sought to transform the military culture by addressing issues of secrecy and impunity he believes are detrimental to the armed forces.
He acknowledged that the recurrence of such tragedies suggests that his initiatives to instigate change were insufficient.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the attack as part of a concerning pattern but did not directly comment on Drapaty's resignation.
He expressed intentions to convene a meeting with Drapaty and other military leaders to address the ongoing security challenges.
The Ukrainian military clarified that, at the time of the attack, there were no mass gatherings or meetings occurring at the targeted site, and that the majority of soldiers had moved to a shelter after an air raid alert was issued.
An internal investigation is set to be conducted to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the strike.
The military has committed to punishing any officials found to be responsible for negligence leading to the soldiers' deaths and injuries.
This recent attack follows an earlier incident in late May, when six soldiers were killed and over ten injured in a similar strike on a training ground in the Sumy region, which borders Russia.
Previous episodes, including a March assault on a training facility more than 100 kilometers from the front lines, have also resulted in significant military casualties, with Drapaty previously condemning negligent behavior among military leaders.
Notably, a September 2024 airstrike on a military institute in Poltava resulted in nearly 60 fatalities and over 300 injuries.
