Commander of the Ground Forces resigns

Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi, has submitted his resignation over the tragedy at the 239th Training Range Center, where a Russian strike killed soldiers from a training battalion.

“I have made the decision to submit my resignation from the position of Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is a conscious step, driven by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy at the 239th training range, in which our soldiers lost their lives.

As a commander, I was unable to fully ensure the execution of my orders. I didn’t press hard enough, didn’t persuade, didn’t change the attitude toward the soldier in formation. That is my responsibility.

The behavior of the soldiers matters, but the ultimate responsibility always lies with the command. It is the commanders who set the rules, make decisions, and are accountable for the consequences.

Cronyism and impunity are poison to the army. I tried to root them out of the Ground Forces. But if tragedies keep repeating, it means my efforts were not enough,” wrote Drapatyi on his Facebook page.

The Background

On June 1, Russian forces launched a missile strike targeting a training unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. As of 12:50, at least 12 people were confirmed dead and more than 60 injured.

The spokesman of the Ground Forces stated that “no formations or mass gatherings of personnel took place.” A commission has been established, and an internal investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The mother of a serviceman stationed near the training center told Suspilne portal that the strike occurred close to the location of a previous attack on the training ground in March 2025.

Just a reminder: On March 1, a Russian missile struck a training ground in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The incident was confirmed on March 3 by Land Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi, who ordered an inspection and launched an investigation. In response, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi suspended both the commander of the military unit and the head of the training center for the duration of the inquiry.

Who is Drapatyi

Drapatyi began his combat service in 2014 as commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. In May of that year, during the First Battle of Mariupol, he led an armored assault that helped repel Russian separatists from the city. In February 2024, Drapatyi was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. He subsequently commanded operational-tactical groups in Kharkiv and Luhansk, stabilizing frontlines and enhancing coordination. On November 29, 2024, he was appointed Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces. As Ground Forces Commander, Drapatyi initiated comprehensive reforms focusing on recruitment, training, and technological integration. He emphasized the development of a high-tech, flexible, and adaptive military force, with a strong focus on practical training and leadership.

He is considered one of the most skilled commanders in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was a leading candidate to become the future Commander-in-Chief, expected to succeed Syrskyi.