Drapaty suspended one of Syrsky's top generals

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatiy has relieved Major General Oleksandr Gruzevych of his duties as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. 

People’s Deputy Mariana Bezuhla was the first to report on this personnel decision.

According to the lawmaker, Gruzevych was considered one of the generals closest to former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi. Meanwhile, a source in the General Staff attributed this decision to dissatisfaction with the official’s performance and delays in making important decisions.

There is currently no official confirmation of Oleksandr Gruzevych’s dismissal or his appointment to another position. Previously, from January to April 2024, the general headed the “Khortytsia” operational-strategic group of forces, and in 2022, he served as deputy chief of staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Land Forces Command under the leadership of Syrsky.

Source: a Facebook post by People’s Deputy Mariana Bezuhla.

The new Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mykhailo Drapatiy, has suspended the dismissal of Shamil Krutkov, commander of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodny Yar.” Previously, the decision to remove him from office had been prepared based on the results of an internal investigation approved by then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Following Mykhailo Drapaty’s appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Andriy Malinovsky concluded his temporary assignment to the General Staff and returned to his regular duties.