The Tragedy That Made the General Step Down

A Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian training camp has not only claimed lives but also shaken the top of Ukraine’s military leadership.

On Sunday, Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi announced that he is stepping down as Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

“This is a deliberate decision based on my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy at Training Area 239,” Drapatyi wrote in a Facebook post.

You can read more about the incident at the training facility here.

The attack, which according to the Ground Forces’ Telegram channel took place on Sunday, killed twelve Ukrainian soldiers and injured another 60.

Many of the victims were young recruits from a training battalion who were in a shelter when the missiles struck.

“They were supposed to learn, to live, to fight – not to die,” Drapatyi continued in the post, expressing his deepest condolences to the families and the wounded.

Drapatyi has commanded the Ground Forces since last November and has played a key role in coordinating Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion.

His resignation is the latest in a series of leadership changes within Ukraine’s military, which is under increasing pressure from the front lines and public opinion.

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