Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, the commander of Ukraine’s land forces, has submitted his resignation after a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian military training facility resulted in the deaths of 12 soldiers and left 60 others wounded.
Drapatyi, who had been in charge of Ukraine’s land forces since November 2024, made the announcement on Sunday, taking full responsibility for the tragic incident.
In a heartfelt statement posted on Facebook, Drapatyi expressed his personal sense of accountability, saying, “This is a conscious step dictated by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy at the 239th training ground, which resulted in the deaths of our soldiers.” He further added, “These are young guys from a training battalion. Most of them were in shelters. They were supposed to study, live, fight — not die. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to all those who suffered.”
The deadly attack occurred at 12:50 p.m. on Sunday (0950 GMT), when Russian forces launched a missile strike targeting the 239th training ground, located far from the front lines.
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Ukrainian military officials emphasized that there were no mass gatherings or formations of personnel at the time of the attack, as extra precautions were being taken to avoid such risks due to ongoing drone strikes in the region.
Nonetheless, the strike still resulted in significant casualties, with a combination of Russian drones and missiles being used in the broader assault that day.
The tragic incident comes as Ukraine continues to grapple with a shortage of manpower and heightened vulnerability to aerial strikes. An investigative commission has been established to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and hold any responsible parties accountable if negligence is found.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a Ukrainian delegation would travel to Istanbul for direct peace talks with Russian officials on June 2, 2025. Zelenskyy, in his statement, emphasized that the talks would aim to protect Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.
However, prior to the meeting, Ukrainian officials have called on Russia to present a promised memorandum outlining its position on ending the war.
Sunday’s developments also saw an intensification of Russia’s aerial assaults, as Moscow launched its largest drone barrage of the war, with 472 drones targeting Ukraine. Alongside this, seven missiles were fired, contributing to the mounting pressure on Ukrainian forces.
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As tensions continue to escalate, both sides remain locked in a grueling conflict that has shown no sign of abating. The aftermath of Sunday’s attack underscores the devastating impact the war continues to have on Ukraine’s military personnel and its ongoing efforts to defend against Russian aggression.
