President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed a new leader for a significant Ukrainian military unit tasked with safeguarding the eastern city of Pokrovsk, which is increasingly at risk from Russian forces. This marks the third change in leadership within less than a year, announced on Sunday.
In his evening video address, Zelenskyy revealed that he has appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the commander of the Khortytsia operational-strategic group, which oversees a substantial portion of Ukraine’s eastern front.
“These are the most challenging combat zones,” Zelenskyy remarked, noting that he had consulted with Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi regarding these changes.
The capture of Pokrovsk by Russian forces would bring them closer to seizing the entire Donetsk region, a key objective for President Vladimir Putin in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy further stated that Drapatyi’s new role will enhance the army’s operational effectiveness alongside proper brigade training.
“The needs at the front should dictate the criteria for staffing and training brigades,” he emphasized.
Drapatyi succeeds Major General Andriy Hnatov, who has led Khortytsia since June and will transition to the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff, focusing on training and communication.
Russian troops have been making consistent progress in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine towards Pokrovsk, maneuvering from the south and attempting to sever supply lines to Ukrainian forces.
Pokrovsk, which had a pre-war population of approximately 60,000, has served as a crucial defensive bastion for Ukraine in the Donetsk region and has been the site of intense combat for several months.
