Lieutenant General Mykhailo Drapatyi, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, has announced his resignation following a tragic shelling at the 239th training ground that led to the loss of soldiers. He described this decision as an act of personal accountability.

In a statement on social media, Drapatyi mentioned that his decision was a «conscious step» driven by a sense of responsibility for the deaths of soldiers at the training ground.

«I have decided to submit my resignation. This is a conscious step, dictated by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy that resulted in the loss of our warriors», — Drapatyi wrote.

He acknowledged that as a commander, he failed to ensure the full execution of his orders and did not change the attitude toward service in the army as required. «This is my responsibility», — he emphasized.

According to Drapatyi, the primary responsibility for the lives of soldiers always lies with the command. He condemned the culture of mutual protection and impunity within the military, calling it «a poison for the army».

«We have no right to live in a system that does not learn. Without personal accountability, there is no development. Without development, there is no victory», — noted the general.

Drapatyi reported that as a result of the shelling, 12 soldiers from the training battalion were killed, with others wounded. Most of the deceased were in shelters. «They were meant to learn, live, and fight — not to die», — he wrote, expressing condolences to the families of the fallen.

The general also initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy, including the actions of commanders, the state of shelters, and alert systems.

It is worth noting that Mykhailo Drapatyi took command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces in 2024. Prior to this, he held several command positions, including deputy commander of the Operational Command «South» and commanded troops in combat zones.