Changes Are Needed in Personnel Management That Will Ensure Better Results on The Battlefield – Address by the President

29 November 2024 – 20:51

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, some important decisions were made.

Together with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, we decided that it was time to replace the Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi has been appointed as the new Commander. Colonel Oleh Apostol – who previously commanded the 95th Air Assault Brigade – has been appointed as the new Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Both are highly experienced warriors. This year, Mykhailo Drapatyi organized the defense in the Kharkiv direction, practically thwarting a Russian offensive. Overall, since 2014, he has been involved in the war on the most intense and critical fronts. Oleh Apostol – a Hero of Ukraine – has held every command position within the Airborne Assault Forces; he has also been defending our state since 2014, and he knows exactly what is needed to enhance our army’s combat capabilities. Now, Oleh Apostol will be responsible for the new quality of training for our warriors, and he will receive full support at all levels to ensure exactly that. The Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are the backbone of our army. And much depends on how effectively the structure of the Land Forces, as well as the entire Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, functions. Changes are needed – changes in personnel management that will ensure better results on the battlefield. Colonel Pavlo Palisa, a combat commander and Commander of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Brigade, has been appointed Deputy Head of the Office. He clearly understands what is happening in the brigades, at the front, and I need just such a person to know exactly what is happening on a daily basis directly from the front.

And one more thing. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine continues to develop our Army+ application, and in December, the National Guard of Ukraine is expected to join all Army+ services. In particular, this concerns transfers.

I held a meeting of the Staff today. The primary focus was on the energy sector: protection of facilities and restoration efforts. Relevant reports were made. There are tasks of protecting facilities and engaging with partners regarding the supply of air defense systems. Today, I spoke with German Chancellor Scholz. I thanked Olaf for Germany’s leadership in providing air defense systems, including Patriots and IRIS-Ts. We discussed our next steps in defense cooperation. Today I also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron. I am grateful to Emmanuel for responding to our request for additional supplies. Both France and Germany can now help us even more significantly in our defense against Russian terrorist strikes. Of course, we are coordinating our communications with other partners as well. I also spoke with Norwegian Prime Minister Støre. I thanked the Prime Minister personally and his government team, the Norwegian team, for their increased support for Ukraine in the coming year, which we deeply appreciate. I am grateful to the Norwegian Parliament for its consolidated support to Ukraine. We discussed joint actions for the near future. We will expand our cooperation in arms production in Ukraine and in efforts to protect our energy sector. Additionally, we discussed cooperation with Norway in the field of air defense. I thank them for their willingness to help.

Today I also met with a very representative delegation from Latin America: members of parliaments and senators. Nearly the entire region was represented. We had a detailed discussion of the situation and prospects – both here, for our defense, and for our relations with Latin America and other partners. I outlined what we can do, how we can deepen our cooperation with Latin America. And I am grateful for all the words of support, for all the emotions and for the fact that Ukraine is being heard. We must work together to bring a just peace closer and put pressure on Russia. We are doing all we can. I thank everyone who is helping!

Glory to Ukraine!

The cost:

Bodies of 502 Ukrainian defenders killed in action have been returned to Ukraine today…. unspeakable horror.

— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 6:48 AM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Ukraine has repatriated the bodies of 502 soldiers who died fighting against Russia, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the Prisoners of War reported on Nov. 29.

The Geneva Conventions stipulate that those who lose their lives during war are entitled to a dignified burial. As of early March, Ukraine has identified more than 2,800 bodies and body fragments of fallen soldiers, according to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

The bodies of 397 soldiers were recovered from Donetsk Oblast, while 64 were brought back from Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and 24 from Luhansk Oblast. Another 17 bodies were repatriated from morgues in Russia.

“Law enforcement officials and forensic experts will identify those killed,” the headquarters wrote in a post on Telegram.

The operation to recover the fallen soldiers involved several government and military agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Interior Ministry, the State Emergency Service, and the Armed Forces.

The headquarters also thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for its assistance.

On Nov. 8, the bodies of 563 fallen Ukrainian soldiers were returned to Ukraine. Meanwhile, on Oct. 18, the bodies of 501 Ukrainian troops were also retrieved.

In late February, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that about 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during the full-scale invasion.

⚡️Ukraine urges NATO to issue membership invitation next week, Reuters reports.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asked his NATO counterparts to invite Ukraine to join the alliance during a meeting in Brussels next week, Reuters reported on Nov. 29, citing a letter received.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) November 29, 2024 at 12:52 PM

🕯 Ukrainian poet and prose writer Myroslav Herasymovych killed in action

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— Ukrainska Pravda 🇺🇦 (@pravda.ua) November 29, 2024 at 7:51 PM

From Ukrainska Pravda:

Myroslav Herasymovych (real name Myroslav Kulyk), a Ukrainian poet, prose writer and screenwriter, was killed in action in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Herasymovych’s brother Taras Kulyk on Facebook

Quote: “In the battle with Russia, my brother, Myroslav Kulyk, gave away his life in the city of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast,” Kulyk wrote.

His brother specified that Myroslav Herasymovych was killed on 25 November, four days before his birthday. On 29 November, the poet was supposed to have turned 57.

Journalist Myroslava Barchuk reacted to the news of Herasymovych’s death. “Mik, fly high and lightly, ‘higher and higher’, as granny Helia used to say, up to your heavenly School of Liberal Arts. And to your mother Myroslava. Today is your birthday. So, I wish you this. May your sacrifice not be in vain,” she wrote.

Myroslav Herasymovych (Kulyk) was born in Lutsk on 29 November 1967. He was a poet, prose writer, screenwriter and musician who founded the School of Liberal Arts named after Evening Space. He graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University’s Faculty of Journalism in Kyiv.

From The Kyiv Independent:

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asked his NATO counterparts to invite Ukraine to join the alliance during a meeting in Brussels next week, Reuters reported on Nov. 29, citing a letter received.

“I urge you to endorse the decision to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance as one of the outcomes of the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on Dec. 3-4,” Sybiha wrote.

Kyiv submitted its application to join NATO in September 2022, and in July 2024, the alliance affirmed Ukraine’s “irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership” — although Ukraine has not received any definitive news about its future accession.

According to Sybiha, a NATO invitation will become “the Allies’ adequate response to Russia’s constant escalation of the war it has unleashed.”

He mentioned “tens of thousands” of North Korean soldiers involved in the full-scale war and a recent attack against Ukraine with Oreshnik, Russia’s new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).

“We believe that the invitation should be extended at this stage,” the minister wrote.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has repeatedly called on partners to issue a membership invitation to Kyiv, said that Ukraine will join NATO only after Russia’s full-scale war ends.

However, inviting Kyiv to the alliance now would demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he failed to achieve one of his main goals — to prevent Kyiv from joining NATO, Reuters reported, citing the letter.

In mid-October, Zelensky unveiled his five-point victory plan, which includes Kyiv’s invitation to join NATO placed at the top of the list. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smithsaid in October that the alliance does not currently have such plans.

Georgia:

All eyes on Georgia now. The West needs to help these brave people in defending their freedom and their European choice. Their battle is also a part of the defense in the global conquest of tyrannies against democracies.
Photo: @Publika_ge.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 1:29 PM

My people sing the National Anthem of Georgia while the robocops are dispersing them with water cannons.

This is my homeland.❤️

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— Tatia Tsuladze (@tsuladze.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 5:33 PM

Anti-Russian protests in Tbilisi this hour taking a violent turn as riot police attack demonstrators.

Earlier today, the Russian-backed government officially canceled EU ascension plans in favor of Moscow.

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— SPRAVDI – Stratcom Centre (@stratcomcentre.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 5:13 PM

By the way, the UK Visa & Immigration Office is like 10 meters away from this police assault against politician Vano Tsereteli, in the same lobby, and NDI Georgia is in the same building too!

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 11:20 AM

Just in: Batumi is roaring. EU and Georgian flags have been unfurled from the Batumi City Council/Mayor’s Office building. #GeorgiaProtests

📸Mate Tsenteradze

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— Tatia Tsuladze (@tsuladze.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 12:07 PM

Apparently, this is the second day of protests at the small Samegrelo town of Chkhorotsku too. As of now I am aware of 7 cities/towns protesting, all simultaneously and spontaneously. #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Oto Shengelia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 12:34 PM

I never remember Akhmeta protesting anything?? Way to go!! 🇬🇪🇪🇺 #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 1:06 PM

Protesters are using fireworks, among others, against the police. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 3:32 PM

More footages of tens of policeman beating one fallen man. #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Ba Cho

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 5:33 PM

US/UK Desk Officer of the Georgian Defense Forces Rati Tvalavadze resigns in protest, stating all limits have been crossed and the decisive moment has come.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 6:16 PM

Here is Marika Mikiashvili’s assessment of where things stand:

I don’t remember Georgians so confident to engage with the police, and even asking for it, as everyone realizes this is the decisive moment and these clashes cannot be avoided. 1/ 🇬🇪🇪🇺

The Georgian Dream sowed national disengagement and embarrassment for more than a decade. A month ago when the Georgian Dream stole elections after our national awakening in April-May, they succeeded in disorientating and depressing many Georgians. 2/

But nevertheless some opposition-led protests persisted, albeit modest, and maintained some process of brewing resistance. It was a long journey to trigger the masses, and the solutions seemed very unclear, but what was clear was that 3/

the anger, humiliation, and disgust had not gone anywhere, and it was laying there as a land mine for the illegitimate Russian regime that is the Georgian Dream. Many people were prepared to work painstakingly on tactics, discipline, and so on, 4/

but what happened instead is that the regime triggered a cherry on top by halting Georgia’s EU path, and just in time that people had sufficiently digested the initial shock of the stolen elections too.
And boom!
5/

I don’t know what they were thinking, and I’ll discuss versions elsewhere, but this is the endgame; there is no concession they could trick us into, or any illusions such as the change of power through elections to cling to. 6/

It’s only forward from here – and that is our victory, our freedom from the last ever Russian rule in Georgia! 🇬🇪🇪🇺 7/7.

Sweden:

Russias embassy in Stockholm was ‘attacked’ with paint, dropped from a drone last night. Russia itself is suspected to be behind it.

Both this incident and the cable sabotages are now ran within SE police special operation Gunder, concerning incidents that aims to destabilize Sweden.

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— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 1:31 PM

NATO and the EU:

If Putin manipulates Western leaders & persuades them to push Ukraine into a bad deal with Russia, it’s highly likely that his next step will be to test Article 5. Would Trump (& some others) would go to war if ‘little green men’ took over (for example) part of one of the Baltic states?

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— Ian Bond (@cerianbond.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 2:03 AM

The EU:

Interesting detail re: close-access cyber operations:

“Surveillance was also carried out at Patch Barracks, a US military base in Stuttgart, in late 2022. Morgan said the spies had had equipment that could “compromise” the mobile telephones of Ukrainian soldiers preparing to fight the Russians.”

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— Dan Black (@danwblack.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 7:31 AM

From The Times of London:

Two female spies embroiled in a love triangle within a Russian espionage ring were intended as “honeytraps” to target journalists and dissidents, the Old Bailey has been told.

The UK-based operation was led by Orlin Roussev, who, along with Biser Dzhambazov, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to spy.

Dzhambazov, 34, was in a relationship with both Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Katrin Ivanova, 32, who both deny a charge of spying along with Tihomir Ivanchev, 39.

The ring was involved in operations in London, Vienna, Valencia, Montenegro and Stuttgart. They “put many lives at risk” including bytargeting a military base used to train Ukrainian forces, the court was told.

They allegedly planned to use the two women as “a honey trap, as sexual bait to capture more information from the targets”.

Dzhambazov lived with Ivanova but was also in a relationship with Gaberova, the court was told. Gaberova, a beautician, had previously been in a relationship with Ivanchev.

The masterminds discussed killing the investigative journalist who exposed the Russian links to a poisoning in Salisbury, or kidnapping him and taking him to Moscow.

Alison Morgan KC, for the prosecution, said the defendants may suggest they were “misled” and were “blindly following others around Europe, simply out of love”. She said: “By gathering the information and passing it on to the Russian state, the defendants were putting many lives at risk.”

Jan Marsalek, a Russian agent who used the alias Rupert Ticz, paid Roussev for the espionage operations. Roussev passed £204,000 to Dzhambazov, who distributed some of the money to other members of the ring. All five people involved in the British operation are Bulgarians with EU settlement status, allowing them to live in the UK.

Marsalek and Roussev exchanged 78,747 messages over Telegram during the co-operation of the spy ring between August 2020 and February last year. The spies carried out surveillance of people and locations, using false identities and advanced technology to acquire information, the court was told.

Police found technical equipment including 221 mobile telephones and 495 telephone SIM cards, along with audio and video recording devices, drones, eavesdropping devices, jammers and hacking software. Much of the equipment was found at the guest house where Roussev lived with his wife and stepson in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Gaberova ran a beauty salon called Pretty Woman in Acton, west London. Ivanova, a laboratory assistant, lived with Dzhambazov in Harrow, northwest London. Ivanchev, 39, was a painter and decorator from Enfield, north London. Members of the ring were involved in six operations, the court was told.

Morgan said: “It is not in dispute that the defendants were conducting surveillance operations in relation to the targets. The sole question that you will have to determine in relation to each of these defendants is why they were carrying out that surveillance of the targets.”

The first target was Christo Grozev, 54, an investigative journalist with the Bellingcat website, who was put under surveillance by all members of the ring between September and November 2021, the court was told.

Grozev exposed the Russian links to the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a Russian military intelligence officer who acted as a double agent for the UK, and his daughter Yulia at their home in Salisbury in 2018. He also investigated the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader.

The spies followed Grozev to Vienna in Austria, Montenegro and Valencia in Spain. They discussed killing him, kidnapping him and taking him to Moscow, and infiltrating Bellingcat, the court was told.

Roussev boasted of having four 12-strong teams of agents in Bulgaria, likening them to the car thieves in the Hollywood film Gone in 60 Seconds.

The second target was Roman Dobrokhotov, 41, a Russian investigative journalist based in the UK who edits The Insider, which focused on Russian affairs. Ivanova was allegedly involved in that operation, in November 2022.

Bergey Ryskaliyev, 57, a Kakazh former politician granted asylum in the UK, was targeted in November 2021 to help Russia cultivate relations with Kazakhstan. Gaberova was allegedly involved.

Plans were developed to stage a demonstration at the Kazakh embassy close to Trafalgar Square in central London in September 2022 and to create intelligence that they could pass on to the country’s intelligence services to gain favour for Russia. Ivanova was allegedly involved.

Surveillance was also carried out at Patch Barracks, a US military base in Stuttgart, southwest Germany, in late 2022. The ring believed that the base was being used to train Ukrainian forces during the Russian invasion. Ivanchev was allegedly involved. Morgan said the spies had had equipment that could “compromise” the mobile telephones of Ukrainian soldiers preparing to fight the Russians.

The sixth target, Kirill Kachur, had been a member of the Investigate Committee of Russia, but left the country in 2021 and was designated a “foreign agent”. He was targeted in Montenegro by all the members of the spy ring, the court was told.

There’s been some discussion in the comments regarding the reporting that the Biden administration keeps telling the Ukraine they have to both lower the conscription age and conscript more people into the Ukrainian military. This would be good advice if the US was actually providing the equipment, material, weapons systems, weapons, and ammunition that would allow the Ukrainians to field more military personnel.

“We are now in the situation when we need more equipment to arm all the people that have already been mobilized, and we think the first priority is to send quicker, faster military aid,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Nov. 28.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) November 28, 2024 at 5:18 PM

The Kyiv Independent has the details:

Ukraine has urged its international partners to expedite the delivery of critical military equipment, emphasizing that quicker aid is more crucial than drafting additional personnel.

With manpower shortages posing a challenge, Ukraine continues to balance domestic and international expectations while focusing on strengthening its forces on the battlefield.

“We are now in the situation when we need more equipment to arm all the people that have already been mobilized, and we think the first priority is to send quicker, faster military aid,” Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, said on Nov. 28 during a press briefing in Kyiv.

Tykhyi noted that Ukraine’s mobilization strategy is regularly discussed with international allies alongside other key topics, including defense strategy and sanctions on Russia. He dismissed suggestions of tension over the issue.

“I can confirm that this topic is being discussed at negotiations. I can refute that this is a point of tension or that it’s being discussed in a critical or negative manner,” he said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the issue during a Nov. 19 parliamentary session, presenting a 10-point plan to bolster internal resilience.

Zelensky ruled out lowering the mobilization age despite facing pressure from citizens and Western partners to do so. Instead, he proposed reforms, including new management strategies, the creation of a military ombudsman, and a contract system for citizens below the mobilization age.

Donetsk Oblast:

⚡️Syrskyi orders deployment of more reserves to Pokrovsk, Kurakhove directions in Donetsk Oblast.

Prior to the statement, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi visited Ukrainian units in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions of the front line.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) November 29, 2024 at 9:03 AM

The Kyiv Independent has the details:

Ukrainian forces stationed near the towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast will be additionally supplied with reserves, ammunition, weapons, and military equipment, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Nov. 29.

Prior to the statement, Syrskyi visited Ukrainian units in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions of the front line.

“The main goal is to personally talk to the commanders who are directly engaged in combat, to solve problematic issues, and provide comprehensive assistance,” Syrskyi wrote on his Telegram channel.

“We continue to deter the enemy and inflict heavy losses in manpower and equipment. I am grateful to our soldiers for their resilience and bravery in the fight against the Russian aggressor.”

Ukrainian officials have increasingly raised concerns about a possible new Russian push in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the south, just as Russian forces continue to advance in the east, focusing their efforts near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.

Russia has captured 234.79 square kilometers (90 square miles) in the past week, which is the highest number in 2024, according to the independent Russian outlet Agentstvo.

Russia’s advance has picked up pace over the past months as Ukraine’s military struggles to replenish its ranks, and Western arms are not flowing in as fast as Kyiv has hoped.

The outgoing Biden administration seeks to speed up materiel deliveries before Trump takes office.

Washington has provided Ukraine’s forces with new capabilities to stall the Russian advance, such as long-range strikes on Russian territory or anti-personnel mines.

Kyiv:

⚡️Russia’s drone attack damages children’s medical center in Kyiv, injuries reported.

In one district of the capital, debris from a drone caused a fire on the facade of a children’s medical center. A security guard was injured in the attack.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) November 28, 2024 at 6:39 PM

Simferopol’s’kyi Raion, Russian occupied Crimea:

It looks like some Russian air defense system just exploded in Crimea, Simferopol’s’kyi district.

Rocket fuel detonation.
Typical pattern observed after air defense systems are destroyed.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 5:13 AM

/2. Presumably Russian S-400 air defence system positions were targeted

45.0758911, 33.9235118
t.me/kiber_borosh…

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 7:14 AM

Not sure where in Ukraine this is, but’s its cool to watch:

NEMESIS unit chases and destroys Russian BUK-M3 radar station with the help of a heavy night bomber drone. t.me/usf_army/279

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 6:53 AM

Rostov Oblast, Russia:

Oil depot in Rostov region of Russia was targeted by drones tonight.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) November 29, 2024 at 3:20 AM

Official statements have now arrived. They report that “Ukrainian forces are carrying out widespread attacks on the Rostov region. So far, 30 UAVs have been destroyed and disrupted by electronic warfare systems.”

It appears the oil refinery effectively fulfilled its role as air defense.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 6:35 PM

The oil depot in russia’s Rostov region is blazing hot—probably burning with embarrassment over the ruble’s plummeting value.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 7:16 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

I think this photo deserves to be the first one posted here 🫠

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— Patron (@patronthedog.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 5:53 AM

Open thread!