Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed former
Ground Forces chief Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Joint Forces
Commander, the president announced on June 3.
In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy said Drapatyi will focus exclusively on frontline combat operations.
“Regarding the Ground Forces system, including training, preparation, changes in the operational command structure, and all related matters, another person will handle those responsibilities,” said the president.
On June 1, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian troops had launched a missile attack on the location of one of its training units, killing 12 people and injuring 60 others. In a statement, Drapatyi said that he had initiated an investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy and resigned from his post.
On Nov. 29, 2024, Zelenskyy appointed Drapatyi as the Ground Forces Commander, replacing Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk.