Personnel changes in Ukraine's Armed Forces, frontline update. Serhiy Zgurets' column

New appointments in Ukraine's Armed Forces

Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, while Brigadier General Oleh Apostol has been named Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Both are highly respected military leaders with extensive combat experience. Mykhailo Drapatyi gained recognition during the war with Russia starting in 2014. He is remembered for the video showing him leaping over structures built by separatists while entering Mariupol, demonstrating the determination of a man who was then an officer and commander of a mechanized battalion.

Drapatyi was among those who led the liberation of the right bank of the Kherson region. In February 2024, he was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, marking a significant step in his military career. In May of the same year, he was made Commander of the Kharkiv Joint Operational Task Force when the Russian invaders broke through on a section of the Ukrainian border. He ensured the stability of the defense while retaining his position as Deputy Chief of the General Staff. He has now been appointed Commander of the Ground Forces, replacing General Oleksandr Pavliuk, whose new assignment is yet to be announced.

The Ground Forces are a challenging sector, involving the preparation of reserves, personnel, mobilization, and other measures aimed at improving the efficiency of the Armed Forces' command. President Zelenskyy, in his address to parliament outlining the victory plan, emphasized the need to strengthen the resilience of military command. General Oleksandr Syrskyi also mentioned the potential transition to a corps structure to address command issues. This task will likely fall to Mykhailo Drapatyi in his new role as Commander of the Ground Forces.

Oleh Apostol, appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, is also a well-known and experienced commander. He previously served as the commander of the 95th Separate Airborne Assault Polissia Brigade, which is recognized for its effective combat operations on various parts of the frontline. Apostol holds the title of Hero of Ukraine, awarded for his successful leadership in numerous frontline areas where his brigade fought. His success is attributed to both his own experience and the expertise of his subordinates.

Apostol emphasizes the importance of quality training and the transfer of combat experience, which is crucial for strengthening our combat readiness. If such individuals implement these approaches in higher positions, it will significantly strengthen the Armed Forces. However, the transformation of the Armed Forces requires a systemic approach. We hope that the Commander-in-Chief and other officials are focused on making the necessary changes to improve the effectiveness of Ukrainian Armed Forces in the fight against an enemy seeking to exploit its advantage in manpower and equipment.

Frontline situation

The last month has been extremely difficult for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but it has also been tough for the Russian army. Over the month, around 42,000 occupiers were eliminated, marking the highest casualty count since the beginning of the active phase of combat. However, the enemy continues to disregard these losses and is still attempting to advance on certain sections of the front.

The most challenging remains the Pokrovsk-Kurakhove sector, where the Russian forces’ advances are being observed. Today, Oleksandr Syrskyi reported the deployment of reserves, equipment, personnel, and ammunition to this area to halt Russian progress.

The presence of General Oleksandr Syrskyi in this section of the front is extremely important. We hope that his actions will indeed influence the situation. This is the second time an increase in forces and resources for this sector has been announced. Just two weeks ago, there were discussions at the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters about deploying additional forces to the direction to deter the Russian troops. These actions are likely to help minimize the Russian advance.

Other sections of the front also remain tense, particularly the Lyman direction. In Terny, Yampolivka, and Torsk, the Russian forces have intensified combat operations, and Ukrainian brigades are responding accordingly. The 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade is operating in the Lyman direction. Maksym Bilousov, the head of the communications department of the 60th Brigade, shared details about what is happening in the brigade's area of responsibility.

“Over the past two weeks, the Russian forces have intensified their attacks, with mechanized assaults taking place every day. They can be in the morning, evening or even twice a day. The Russians are using armored personnel carriers and armored personnel carriers with or without tank support. Heavy fighting continues, but we are giving a decent fight, keeping the line despite all the difficulties. It is important for the occupiers to bring as many infantry to Ukrainian positions as possible, so they use armored vehicles. Perhaps this decision was made because of the difficult conditions, and that's why they are using armored personnel carriers and armored personnel carriers. Ukrainian operators of unmanned systems are constantly hunting the enemy and monitoring their movements. Our unmanned systems, bombers, FPV drones, such as Baba Yaga, work non-stop, forcing the Russians to act by any means necessary,” he said.

The brigade has very experienced pilots and artillerymen, many of whom have been fighting since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, since the ATO. They were trained in the Kherson region and gained many skills. The interaction is based on the conditions. The military analyzes the situation and deploys the appropriate units. Under favorable conditions, those who are able to work do so.

The brigade has very experienced pilots and artillerymen, many of whom have been fighting since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, since the ATO. They were trained in the Kherson region and gained many skills. The interaction is based on the conditions. The military analyzes the situation and deploys the appropriate units. Under favorable conditions, those who are able to work do so.

Bilousov said that the Vidar unmanned systems unit, together with the 67th Brigade, performs remote mining when circumstances require it: “Aerial reconnaissance observes how the enemy finds these mines during mechanized and foot assaults. Remote mining is a must in our tactics, and we can see the results of this work.”

According to him, the technological solutions and areas that need to be developed to maximize the protection of personnel and destroy the enemy are, first of all, maximum robotization.

“Unmanned systems are important, not only airborne but also ground-based unmanned systems and unmanned turrets. It is also necessary to improve electronic warfare protection to protect our unmanned systems from the enemy and ensure their effective operation in the face of enemy electronic warfare. The infantry will be saved when unmanned systems start working for them, like in the movie Terminator, only with Skynet on our side,” he added.

The logistics of the units are fine, says Bilousov: “We've been here since the beginning of 2024, so we know our area well and all the secret routes, codes, turnouts, and passwords. We have no problems with logistics, we only have problems with the enemy, who is constantly trying to break through and attack us with a large number of guided bombs. This is a problem not only for us, but for the entire frontline. They have increased the number of assaults and, accordingly, the number of times they use guided bombs. The threat of the guided bombs exists almost every day at Ukrainian positions. Despite being a more accurate weapon than air bombs, they still don't always hit their targets, which plays into our hands.”

How to join the 60th Brigade

The brigade can be accessed using the Diia and Reserve+ apps. You can find vacancies in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in particular in the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade, by searching for the word “Inhulets”. This way you can see what vacancies are available.

“We communicate and look at the level of training of new personnel. All our units have very experienced sergeants who assess the level of training, see who needs to be trained and what needs to be taught. According to the situation, we are constantly working to improve training. Our sergeants are experienced, many of them have been through the ATO and have been participating in combat since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Our chief sergeant is very qualified, so we are working to improve the training of new personnel,” Bilousov said.