General Mykhailo Drapaty has become the new commander of Ukraine's land forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday after a meeting of the high command. He added that he appointed Colonel Oleh Apostol as the deputy supreme commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Zelensky announced changes in the army leadership on Friday. He recalled that General Drapaty successfully organized defense in the Kharkiv direction in the north-east of the country and broke the offensive of Russian forces. In Zelensky's assessment, both he and Apostol, who was most recently the commander of the 95th air assault brigade, have proven their effectiveness in combat.
In a statement, the president Ukraine he emphasized that their most important task is to increase the combat potential of the army. He also mentioned ensuring the quality of soldiers' preparation and introducing an innovative approach to people management.
Mykhailo Drapatyarmyinform.com.ua
Drapaty and Apostle with new features
Gen. Drapaty has been deputy chief of the general staff for soldier preparation since February this year. In May, he became the commander of the operational-tactical troop group “Kharkiv”, and then the operational-tactical group “Luhansk”.
Colonel Apostol has been participating in combat operations in eastern Ukraine since 2014. After Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine, he took part in the liberation of towns in the Mykolaiv Oblast in the south of the country, during which a significant amount of military equipment was captured. Since the end of 2022, units under his command have carried out defense and attack operations in the Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts. Since August this year, he has taken part in the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk Oblast of Russia.
Main photo source: armyinform.com.ua