Ukraine announces shakeup of top military officers

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Ukrainian service member is seen training, July 2, 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Warrant Officer Patrik Orcutt via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced a shakeup in Ukraine's military on Tuesday, including the appointment to a new post of a commander who tendered his resignation over a deadly Russian attack.

Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, said Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, who offered to quit as commander of Ukraine's land forces over an attack on a training area, would now serve as the new commander of joint forces.

Zelenskiy said another commander, whom he did not identify, would take charge of land forces.

He said the appointment had also been approved of Oleh Apostol as commander of paratroops and Robert Brovdi as commander of unmanned systems.

 (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksander Kozhukhar)