Zelensky appoints new commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces”

Source: Volodymyr Zelensky

On Friday, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.  The re-jig in the country’s military leadership also saw Colonel Oleh Apostol made Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

“Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi successfully organized the defense in the Kharkiv direction, thwarting a major Russian offensive. Colonel Oleh Apostol, an experienced commander of the 95th Air Assault Brigade, has also demonstrated his effectiveness in combat,” said Zelensky announcing the new appointments.

According to reports, Drapatyi has an impressive track record – he took part in Ukraine’s anti-terrorist operations in the east in the early days of Russia’s aggression. The military journey of this battle-hardened officer, began in a role of a commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade. In May 2014,  he led the units of the 72nd Brigade when they rolled into Mariupol on armored vehicles to reinforce units fighting armed separartists. There are vides showing him and then mechanic-driver Dmytro Vorona leading a convoy of four infantry fighting vehicles that broke through pro-Russian barricades.