Mikhail Drapaty’s abrupt return reveals increasing infighting among military leaders, reports have claimed
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky meeting infantry troops, May 6, 2025, in Kiev. © president.gov.ua
Ukrainian General Mikhail Drapaty has been assigned to a top military post just days after submitting his resignation as the head of Ukraine’s Land Forces. The move comes amid reports of increased infighting among senior Ukrainian military officials.
Kiev’s forces have experienced setbacks on the battlefield since late 2023, following an attempted counteroffensive that failed to breach Russian defenses. Reports of mounting frustration and internal tensions have circulated as battlefield momentum has shifted in Russia’s favor.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky announced on Tuesday that Drapaty – who had resigned after accepting responsibility for fatal Russian strikes on military training sites – will now lead a specialized command established in 2020 to help align Ukraine’s armed forces with NATO operational methods. The position is currently tasked with overseeing frontline operations against Russia.
In his new role, Drapaty will “focus solely on combat issues,” while a separate appointee will manage troop training, Zelensky said. The move is part of a broader reshuffle within Ukraine’s military leadership.
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Announcing his resignation, Drapaty had criticized the Ukrainian military’s failure to learn from past mistakes or to hold senior officers accountable. He condemned what he described as a culture of mutual self-protection within senior ranks, calling it “poison for the army” and saying Ukraine “cannot win” without reforms to its armed forces. Drapaty reiterated his call for changes in a statement confirming his reassignment.
Critics blame entrenched interests in the Ukrainian military for pervasive corruption, disregard for soldiers’ lives, tendency to cover up battlefield problems from superiors up the command chain, and impunity for wrongdoing.
Several media outlets have interpreted Drapaty’s remarks as a veiled critique of General Aleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief. Commentary on the Strana.ua website has suggested that Zelensky’s leadership shake-up may have been designed to balance influence between Syrsky’s supporters and dissenting voices within the military.
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Zelensky dismissed Syrsky’s predecessor, General Valery Zaluzhny, in early 2024 after Zaluzhny publicly questioned Kiev’s strategic outlook. He argued that the conflict with Russia had reached a stalemate, contradicting public assurances from civilian leaders. Zaluzhny was sacked from the military and appointed ambassador to the UK.
The Ukrainian military has since undergone multiple reshuffles of leadership, as the situation on the frontline increasingly turned in Russia’s favor. Drapaty was given command of the Land Forces in November 2024.