Shaping the Future of the Ukrainian Ground Forces

Ground Forces need transformation, fresh energy for our soldiers, and a modern strategy for enhancing their capabilities. Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, the commander of the Ground Forces, shared his vision for the future of Ukraine’s primary military force and identified the challenges it currently faces.

First and foremost, it’s about the attitude toward people. Human dignity and the high-quality training of personnel are my focus. This entails reforming programs and transforming training centers for faster yet highly professional preparation, aligned with the needs of the Armed Forces and the dynamics of the front. More development of new, high-quality simulators and the latest teaching methods are essential.

The skills and abilities of our foundation — the infantryman — must be as practical and applicable as possible, without unnecessary embellishment. The primary carriers of this knowledge will be the sergeant corps, with combat experience. The emphasis in these changes will be on military leadership principles and technological expertise. Without these skills, it’s impossible to establish control over the chaos of battle, and right now, this is one of the main objectives for shifting the situation on the front lines.

We must remember that the Ground Forces must be ready for new security challenges, which is impossible without a transparent recruitment model. This process will be installed with maximum transparency and zero tolerance for corruption.

Second, technological superiority in the infantry’s armament is crucial. The Ukrainian Ground Forces must become high-tech, flexible, and adaptive — an elite force. For now, I will refrain from going into details. We will work here together and in harmony with the General Staff, the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense, other ministries, our rear — volunteers and funds.

Third, we need to optimize our management processes — we need agility and efficiency in the administrative apparatus. This will be achieved through organizational changes and digitalization. The focus will be on logistics support and training. The main goal is to critically reassess how much time officers spend on bureaucracy and find more meaningful ways to use that freed-up resource.

In summary: People, technology, and transparent management will be the key focus of change in the Ukrainian Ground Forces. I have received support for this from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Changes will undoubtedly happen. No matter how difficult it may be, we cannot afford not to make these changes. This is how I see my task today.