TASS: Drapaty’s appointees have not been confirmed, Ukrainian commanders ignoring their orders

According to Russian security services, as relayed to TASS, the appointees of new Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapaty have still not been formally assigned to their positions, which is why commanders are in no hurry to follow their orders — anticipating further reshuffles in the military.

“All of the new commander-in-chief Drapaty’s appointees have still not been assigned to their positions, and no one in the Ukrainian Armed Forces command is in any hurry to follow their orders, since everything could change in the near future. In addition, Zelensky has still not settled on a candidate for defense minister. In Ukraine, it is believed that the Verkhovna Rada vote on this matter, scheduled for August 18, could be cancelled altogether,” the agency’s source said.

The same source clarified that former head of Zelensky’s office Andriy Yermak is insisting on the return of former commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to security service sources, Syrsky may be appointed as Zelensky’s adviser with expanded powers or brought into the National Security and Defense Council.

Earlier, according to the same security service sources, Drapaty dismissed six generals and one colonel from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In addition, TASS had reported open sabotage among rank-and-file and junior officer personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in connection with Drapaty’s appointment; he is characterized as a commander who sends troops into “meat assaults.”

The background to the personnel upheaval dates to July 16, when mass protests began in Ukraine demanding the reinstatement of dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the dismissal of Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky. Zelensky agreed to the latter on the sixth day of protests. However, demonstrations demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement continued. Ukrainian media note that European circles seeking to weaken Zelensky’s power may be behind Fedorov. Drapaty is considered a member of Fedorov’s team, and local analysts suggest that his relationship with Zelensky and his inner circle could prove difficult.