Ukraine's top commander submits first "war plan" to security council, transfers dozens of generals to reserve
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi has prepared a so-called "war plan" and submitted it for review to the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO), according to Ukrainska Pravda. The document, reportedly the first of its kind for Ukraine, has been under consideration by the RNBO for several weeks. Separately, Drapatyi has moved dozens of colonels, brigadier generals, and other senior officers into the reserve battalion over the past six weeks.
Key points
- Mykhailo Drapatyi was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 22 July 2026, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi.
- Drapatyi prepared a so-called "war plan" and submitted it for review to the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO).
- The plan has been under RNBO review for several weeks as of the 5 October 2026 report by Ukrainska Pravda, citing two high-ranking sources.
- According to Ukrainska Pravda, this is likely the first "war plan" of its kind for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.
- The document is intended to answer what the Ukrainian army must do to preserve Ukraine and within what timelines, including practical questions such as whether to keep soldiers serving as "eyes" and "ears" on the front line who have limited ability to engage in combat.
- Drapatyi has transferred dozens of colonels, brigadier generals, and other officers into the officer reserve battalion, including 11th Corps commander Oleksiy Maistrenko and 19th Corps commander Oleksandr Bakulin; the reserve battalion has been filled at an unprecedented scale over the past six weeks.
Why it matters
The plan is significant as a reportedly first-of-its-kind strategic document intended to define what the Ukrainian army must do to preserve Ukraine and on what timelines. It responds to repeated complaints from Ukrainian military commanders about the absence of a strategic vision for continuing the war, and it addresses practical operational questions — such as whether to retain soldiers serving as reconnaissance roles on the front line who have limited ability to fight. The accompanying transfer of dozens of senior officers into the reserve signals a substantial leadership reshuffle alongside the strategic review.
What happened
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi prepared a so-called "war plan" and submitted it to the National Security and Defense Council (RNBO) for review. According to Ukrainska Pravda, which reported the story on Monday, 5 October 2026, citing two high-ranking sources, the document had already been before the RNBO for several weeks and is likely the first "war plan" of its kind for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. The plan is intended to set out what the Ukrainian army must do to preserve Ukraine and within what timelines, and covers practical matters including whether to keep on the front line soldiers who serve as "eyes" and "ears" but have little ability to engage in combat. In parallel, Drapatyi has moved dozens of colonels, brigadier generals, and other officers into the officer reserve battalion — among them 11th Corps commander Oleksiy Maistrenko, 19th Corps commander Oleksandr Bakulin, Missile Troops and Artillery commander Andriy Malinovsky, and Deputy Commander of Ground Forces Oleksandr Nesterenko. Sources said the reserve battalion has been filled at an unprecedented scale over the preceding six weeks.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All four supplied outlets covering the story are Ukrainian-language media, centred on a report by Ukrainska Pravda citing two high-ranking sources. The coverage focuses on domestic institutional dynamics — the RNBO review process, the substance of the plan, and a leadership overhaul within the General Staff — rather than external diplomatic or allied dimensions. A Ukrainian corps commander's call for a long-term strategy spanning decades is highlighted, and the plan is framed as a historically significant, possibly first-of-its-kind strategic document for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Background
Mykhailo Drapatyi was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 22 July 2026, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi. Shortly after taking office, he cancelled more than 30 outdated General Staff orders and launched a review of the officer corps, including within the Main Intelligence Directorate. He has required all commanders to work with the "Delta" situational awareness system, and the cancellation of outdated orders has reduced the volume of formal reporting. The officer reserve battalion has been filled at an unprecedented scale over the preceding roughly six weeks.