The commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, Mykhailo Drapaty, unexpectedly resigned Sunday, June 1, taking full responsibility for a missile strike on a military training site that killed 12 soldiers and injured more than 60 others.
In a public statement on Facebook, Drapaty said he felt personally responsible for the tragedy and admitted he failed to enforce his orders strictly enough to prevent the loss of life.
“I have decided to step down as commander of the ground forces,” Drapaty wrote. “I was unable to make people follow my orders. I didn’t push hard enough or change attitudes toward discipline. This is my responsibility.”
He said commanders must be held personally accountable for their troops’ safety and warned that without this accountability, the army cannot improve or win the war.
“Without personal responsibility, there is no development. Without development, there is no victory,” Drapaty said.
The missile strike occurred Sunday at the 239th training center, the same day as Drapaty’s resignation. Most soldiers were reportedly sheltering at the time, but the attack still caused heavy casualties.
Drapaty expressed deep condolences to the families of the dead and wounded and said an investigation is underway to examine the circumstances, including the state of the shelters and the effectiveness of warning systems.
“We must build an army where honor and responsibility are more than words – they are actions,” he said.
The resignation comes amid growing pressure on Ukraine’s military to improve safety at training sites after this and other incidents raised concerns about conditions and command oversight.