(CLO) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced the commander of the ground forces on Friday, placing Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi in charge, amid continued losses on the eastern battlefield and Kiev's army facing a serious shortage of manpower.
Mr Zelenskyy said “internal changes” were needed as he announced the 42-year-old would replace Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, who took command of the army in a major reshuffle in February 2024.
"The main task is to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of the army, ensure the quality of training of military personnel and introduce innovative approaches to personnel management in the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the President of Ukraine said.
"The Ukrainian army needs internal changes to fully achieve the state's goals," he said on Telegram after meeting with senior military and government officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Reuters
The young general Drapatyi was respected by the army, and military analysts praised his appointment. Drapatyi took command of the Kharkiv front in May and was able to stop the Russian offensive in the northeast, stabilizing the front.
President Zelenskyy also said he had appointed Colonel Oleh Apostol, commander of the 95th Airborne Brigade, as “deputy” to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi. He praised both Drapatyi and Apostol, saying “they have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield.”
Ukraine is at a disadvantage on the battlefield after 33 months of conflict with Russia. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi said on Friday that he would reinforce troops deployed on the eastern front with reserves, ammunition and equipment as he visited two key Ukrainian-held locations in the Donetsk region.
Russian forces have been making advances in the Donetsk region in recent weeks. Ukraine has also lost about 40% of the territory it had captured in Russia’s Kursk region, as Moscow’s forces launched several counter-offensives.
Military analysts say the Ukrainian army is short of manpower, making it difficult to rotate troops away from the more than 1,000-kilometer frontline or build up reserves.
The move to change the commander of the Ukrainian army also comes amid a serious desertion of the Ukrainian army, paralyzing their combat plans.
More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been charged with desertion since the conflict began in February 2022, according to the AP. Nearly half of those soldiers deserted last year after Kiev launched a controversial and massive military mobilization.
Hoang Anh (according to Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lien-tuc-that-thu-va-thieu-hut-luc-luong-ukraine-thay-tu-lenh-luc-quan-post323531.html
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