In a dramatic turn in Ukraine’s ongoing war, Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, the commander of Ukraine’s land forces, has resigned following a deadly Russian missile strike on a military training ground that killed 12 soldiers and injured 60 others. The attack targeted the 239th training facility in the central Dniepropetrovsk region.
Drapatyi, who assumed leadership of Ukraine’s wartime land forces in November 2024, took personal responsibility for the loss and expressed profound grief. In a heartfelt social media post, he wrote, “These are young guys from a training battalion. Most of them were in shelters. They were supposed to study, live, fight – not die.” He extended condolences to the families of those killed and injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has convened a high-level meeting to investigate the circumstances of the strike. He is expected to summon top military officials, including Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, once Defence Minister Rustem Umerov returns from negotiations with Russian officials in Turkey. “Every life must be preserved. All decisions needed to do this will be adopted,” Zelenskiy said.
Russia has confirmed responsibility for the missile strike, amid a new wave of escalations on both sides. The Russian Defence Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces carried out coordinated drone strikes on several Russian airbases, including in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. While most of the attacks were reportedly repelled, aircraft fires broke out at some locations. Russian authorities claim no casualties and say several individuals linked to the drone attacks have been detained.
Amid intensifying hostilities, diplomacy continues. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently held talks ahead of a second round of direct peace negotiations set to begin Monday in Istanbul. Ukrainian delegates are expected to table fresh proposals.
The upcoming talks mark the most significant peace initiative in months, even as drone warfare continues to intensify along multiple fronts. Observers remain cautious, given past failed attempts, but the renewed contact offers a glimmer of hope amid the bloodshed.
