President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces on July 21, following mass protests in Kyiv calling for the removal of his predecessor, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The Kyiv Independent’s reporter Jimmy Rushton breaks down five key facts about the 43-year-old general, who is widely respected across the ranks for his push to reform Soviet-era command structures. From his early battlefield role in Mariupol to leading major defenses in Kharkiv Oblast, Drapatyi brings a battle-tested reputation and a focus on accountability to Ukraine’s top military post.

All 3 have populations under 18 million. If a conflict were to break out, all 3 would be under NATO command and led by far larger nations.

MoLoChKa: +13 (total 🚢196) shadow fleet vessels warned by fire over 21-22 July within 48 hours about the futility of roaming the waters of the Azov and Black Seas in favor of the aggressor country: 1 tanker, 10 cargo ships, and 2 tugs.

🌶️In total, from 06-22 July, during the SBS “MoLoChKa” operation, 196 watercraft were tracked and hit in the Black and Azov Seas:

⚓️126 in the Azov Sea

⚓️70 in the Black Sea

⚡️The SBS operation “Crimean Switch Off” effectively hit 13⚡️energy hubs and substations in Crimea (11) and other parts of the occupied territories (2) over 21-22 July. The total score for the operation from 01-22 July is 117 energy targets. Proofs coming later.

*Video of “MoLoChKa” in the pinned comment.

We will stand firm

Moscow will fall

We will feed and rebuild Crimea.

Online scoreboard SBS ‘COUNT IT’

https://sbs-group.army (https://sbs-group.army/?utm_source=t)/

MADYAR🇺🇦

22.07.26

KNLA Karen National Liberation Army

PDF-People's Defense Force

KNDF-Karenni Nationalities Defense Force

dow source since this got removed

https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4550900/dow-identifies-an-army-casualty/

I understand this strategy of sending a few soldiers at a time along the front to probe for weak points, but it seems like the human element here isnt really necessary? Whats the point of probing with untrained conscripts, when you can just send drones to see if there is a hole in the defence? Is there anything these guys can do that a bomber or recon drone cant?

Sure drones can't "hold" ground, but neither can these conscripts. The whole point is to reinforce with actual soldiers after. So why not skip the conscripts and send in the real soldiers after drones clear the weak point?

Even setting ethics aside, it seems like an inefficient use of war resources. Surely the cost of mobilizing and equipping people is more expensive than a few drones. And that's without factoring in the mounting political and economic cost of the high casualties.

And it would allow them to actually train these people properly, given they won't be thrown away.