Drapatyi ends tenure as Floor Forces chief, says he leaves with ‘clear conscience’

Mykhailo Drapatyi mentioned on June 11 that he had concluded his six-month tenure as commander of Ukraine's Floor Forces, summarizing his accomplishments and stating that he’s leaving with "a transparent conscience."

Drapatyi submitted his resignation on June 1, following a lethal Russian missile strike that killed no less than 12 Ukrainian troopers at a coaching camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, saying the victims had been younger recruits who "ought to have discovered, lived, and fought — not died."

President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed him as commander of the Joint Forces on June 3, two days after the incident. The Floor Forces mentioned the identical day that an investigation was underway and pledged accountability if negligence or misconduct is discovered.

In his assertion, Drapatyi described the state of the Floor Forces on the time of his appointment on Nov. 29, 2024 as mired in "managerial stagnation," outlined by worry, lack of initiative, and detachment from frontline models.

"Systemic abuse, personnel selections based mostly on connections, low inner group," he wrote. "The command is steadily shifting from a tradition of worry to a tradition of duty."

Drapatyi mentioned he had changed over half of the Floor Forces' management in key features and had begun reforms geared toward decentralization, accountability, and professionalism.

Below his management, the navy launched a revamp of recruitment facilities, aiming to remove corruption and improve transparency in mobilization.

Drapatyi additionally oversaw a partial overhaul of the military's coaching and staffing techniques. New management was launched within the drone, cyber, and digital warfare models amid a wave of broader reforms.

"Selections are made not on the idea of standing or loyalty, however on the idea of research, outcomes, and respect for subordinates," Drapatyi mentioned. "Grassroots initiatives ceased to be a menace and started to turn into a useful resource."

Zelensky mentioned on June 3 that Drapatyi's new function would focus "solely on fight points."

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