Ukrainian president Volodymyr On Sunday, for the third time in less than a year, Zelensky replaced the commander of the key military formation responsible for the defense of the eastern front in the Donetsk region. where the strategic city of Pokrovsk is located and where Russian forces have been making progress in recent months. TASR informs about it according to a Reuters report.
In a video on the X social network, Zelensky announced that entrusted Major General Mychajl Drapaté with the command of the operational-strategic group Chortycia, the area of responsibility of which includes a large part of the eastern front of Ukraine. “These are the most difficult areas of combat,” said the Ukrainian president, adding that he had discussed this change of command with the supreme commander of the Ukrainian forces, Oleksandr Syrsky.
For several months now, the Russians have been trying to capture key Donetsk cities – Pokrovsk and Chasiv Jar. Last Monday, Russia claimed that its troops occupied the village of Shevchenko, about three kilometers from Pokrovskoe. If Russian forces were to occupy Pokrovsk, they would be closer to occupying the entire Donetsk regionwrites Reuters. About 60,000 people lived in Pokrovsk before the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. The city is one of Ukraine’s main defensive bastions in the eastern Donetsk region and has been the focus of fierce fighting for months.
According to Zelensky, Drapaté’s appointment will help to combine the combat activity of the army with the proper training of the units. “It’s the needs on the front line that should dictate the standards for staffing and training units,” said Zelenskyi. Drapatyj replaced General Andriy Hnatov, who headed the Chortycia group since June last year. According to Zelensky, Hnatov will act as the deputy commander of the General Staff for the management of training and communication.
