Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi introduced the new Ground Forces commander, Brigadier General Sviatoslav Zaiets, and outlined his tasks.

This was reported in a statement by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Brigadier General Sviatoslav Zaiets was appointed Commander of the Ground Forces on September 2 by a decree of the President of Ukraine.

“The basis for this choice is experience in commanding troops, the ability to turn decisions into results, and the ability to implement new technologies where they provide a real combat advantage,” Mykhailo Drapatyi said in his statement.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine outlined tasks for the Ground Forces commander and the entire team.

People. A servicemember must be properly trained, equipped and protected from unjustified risk. They must understand what is expected of them today and what awaits them tomorrow.

Training. A person should not enter combat unprepared. Training must correspond to what a servicemember will encounter at a position tomorrow, rather than to the programmes of past years.

Leadership. A professional must see a path for their growth. Promotion should be based on competence, service results and leadership qualities. We must begin forming the next generation of officers and sergeants.

Technology. Unmanned, digital and other new capabilities must be implemented not for the sake of numbers in reports. The criterion is simple: the combat advantage felt by the enemy and the lives of our people saved thanks to that advantage.

Combat experience. Conclusions about what works or does not work on the frontline today must quickly reach those who train personnel, plan operations and make decisions.

Mykhailo Drapatyi stressed that all these changes have one practical criterion — what they change for a person in the military and for a unit in combat.

“The most valuable combat capability of the Armed Forces is our people. Therefore, the task of the new commander is not simply to change structures and processes. His task is to make the Ground Forces capable of carrying out combat missions and better for the people who serve in them,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized.

Mykhailo Drapatyi thanked Hennadii Shapovalov for his work after he left the post of Ground Forces commander.

“I know the circumstances in which he took on this responsibility and how he worked, and what was lacking. I wish the new Ground Forces commander to achieve more in this position than the two of us managed to do. A lot of diligent work is needed. Everything will work out,” he concluded.