Ukraine’s top general wants to end Soviet rules in army. But president’s wartime headquarters may still hold biggest one, commander says
Mykhailo Drapatyi is held responsible for the army but cannot freely appoint his own command team.
Ukraine's top general, Mykhailo Drapatyi, wants to modernize the country's military by ending outdated Soviet-era rules, but he faces limitations imposed by the president's wartime headquarters, according to Yurii Butusov, commander of a drone company. Drapatyi, who was named commander-in-chief in July, has already taken steps to streamline the military, including eliminating more than 30 obsolete orders and pushing for sergeants with combat experience to have more authority.
However, key appointments remain under the direct control of the Supreme Commander's headquarters, which Butusov contends hampers Drapatyi's ability to build his own team and lead the force as he sees fit. The president's wartime headquarters maintains control over critical branches such as the Air Force and Air Assault Forces. Butusov argues that if Drapatyi is allowed to appoint the personnel he deems best suited for the job, it could help resolve the internal conflicts and dysfunction that have plagued the Ukrainian military for years.
One deputy remains only "acting," despite being appointed by Drapatyi, highlighting the artificial constraints at play. Ultimately, Butusov contends that Drapatyi shoulders the responsibility of leading the Ukrainian military without the authority to do so fully, leaving the public and leadership questioning his ability to command the force effectively.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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