Butusov: Drapatyi cannot quickly overhaul Ukraine’s military command system

“Our government is structured in such a way that it is fragmented. And replacing any one element does not mean the system immediately produces different results or that those changes become systemic. A person comes in and spends a lot of time simply trying to understand their place in the system, simply trying to understand what they can and cannot do,” Butusov said.

He added that some personnel decisions are compromises and do not all reflect the vision of the person appointed to a particular position.

“Then there is the issue of coordination, because all complex strategic decisions require coordination. One leader, even if it is the commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces, cannot decide everything. He does not control all the money. He does not control the entire mobilization system. He does not control relations with foreign partners. He cannot immediately change programs that have already been launched and are being implemented,” the Khartiia drone company commander said.

Drapatyi’s appointment as Armed Forces commander-in-chief and other military personnel changes

On July 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the dismissal of Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi, then commander of the Armed Forces’ Joint Forces, to replace him.

Drapatyi named strengthening air defenses and cutting bureaucracy in the military as his key priorities.

On July 30, hromadske, citing a source in the General Staff, reported that Drapatyi dismissed Oleksandr Hruzevych as chief of staff of the Ground Forces.

On Aug. 4, Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources in the Defense Forces, reported that Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted a proposal to dismiss Armed Forces Medical Forces Commander Anatolii Kazmirchuk.

On Aug. 7, following a report from Drapatyi, Zelenskyy announced another round of personnel changes in the Armed Forces. He did not provide details at the time.

On Aug. 10, Zelenskyy said “important military issues” had been resolved following a meeting with military commanders. He said some decisions on personnel changes in the military had already been prepared.

On Aug. 17, after meeting with Drapatyi, Zelenskyy said he had “decided that personnel decisions should be prepared” based on proposals from the commander-in-chief.

On Sept. 2, Zelenskyy appointed 20th Army Corps commander Gen. Sviatoslav Zaiets as Ground Forces commander and issued a decree dismissing Hennadii Shapovalov from the post.