Ukraine's top general introduces new Ground Forces commander, sets out priorities
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi formally introduced Brigadier General Svyatoslav Zaits as the new commander of the Ground Forces to the personnel on September 5. Drapatyi cited Zaits's troop-command experience, ability to carry decisions through to results, and willingness to adopt new technologies as the basis for the appointment, and outlined priorities including personnel protection, training matched to frontline realities, merit-based promotion, and new technology adopted for combat effect rather than reporting metrics.
Key points
- The introduction took place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, and was announced by Drapatyi via his Facebook page.
- Svyatoslav Zaits was appointed commander of the Ground Forces by decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky on September 2.
- Before the appointment, Zaits served as chief of staff – deputy commander of the 8th Corps of the Air Assault Forces and, from April, as commander of the 20th Army Corps.
- Drapatyi thanked outgoing commander Hennadii Shapovalov, who was dismissed by presidential decree.
- Stated priorities for the new commander include proper preparation, provision and protection of servicemembers from unjustified risk, and training that matches frontline conditions rather than past programs.
- The Ground Forces are to begin forming the next generation of officers and NCOs, with promotion based on competence, service results and leadership qualities.
- Unmanned, digital and other new capabilities are to be adopted where they provide real combat advantage and save lives, not to pad report numbers.
Why it matters
The change installs a new commander at the head of the Ground Forces, one of the main branches of the Ukrainian military during an ongoing war. By publicly tying the appointment to specific doctrinal priorities, the commander-in-chief signalled that the Ground Forces are expected to shift on personnel protection, training, merit-based promotion, and the adoption of new technologies. The dismissal of the outgoing commander Shapovalov makes this a leadership turnover at the top of the branch, and Zaits's recent command of the 20th Army Corps is the experience base the command is leaning on.
What happened
On Saturday, September 5, 2026, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi formally introduced Brigadier General Svyatoslav Zaits as the new commander of the Ground Forces to the personnel, announcing it via his Facebook page. Zaits had been appointed by decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky on September 2, succeeding Hennadii Shapovalov, whom the president also dismissed. Drapatyi thanked Shapovalov for his work and set out the criteria behind Zaits's selection: troop-command experience, ability to carry decisions through to results, and willingness to implement new technologies that deliver a real combat advantage. He then defined priority areas for Zaits and the Ground Forces collective: proper preparation, provision and protection of servicemembers from unjustified risk; training that reflects the conditions soldiers actually face on the position; promotion based on competence, service results and leadership qualities as the Ground Forces form the next generation of officers and NCOs; and the adoption of unmanned, digital and other new capabilities where they provide combat advantage and save lives, not to inflate report metrics. He framed the task as making the Ground Forces capable of fulfilling combat missions and a better place for the people serving in them, and stressed that frontline combat lessons must quickly reach those who train, plan and decide.
Where reporting differs
Sources agree on the substance of the appointment and Drapatyi's stated priorities, but disagree on the date of the president's decree: some facts tie the appointment specifically to September 2, while others state only that Zaits was appointed by presidential decree without giving a date.
Background
Zaits was appointed commander of the Ground Forces by decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky on September 2, according to the reported facts. Before taking the post, he served as chief of staff – deputy commander of the 8th Corps of the Air Assault Forces and, in April of the same year, as commander of the 20th Army Corps. Drapatyi is identified as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the rank of Major General; Zaits holds the rank of Brigadier General.