Ukrainian Army Chief Mykhailo Drapaty Halts Recruitment for Assault Regiments

Commander‑in‑Chief Mykhailo Drapaty, who took over Ukraine’s armed forces a week ago, is launching a series of reforms aimed at increasing operational flexibility and reducing casualties. His agenda includes granting battalion and brigade commanders greater autonomy, replacing the doctrine of holding positions at all costs with more mobile defence, expanding the use of drones at lower echelons, and simplifying bureaucratic procedures for frontline troops.

In a related directive issued at midnight on 26 July, Drapaty ordered a suspension of all new personnel intake and transfers to the ground‑force assault regiments. The halt applies to recruits from reserve battalions, territorial recruitment centres and other units, leaving only the Army+ programme for soldiers who returned after unauthorised absences before 12 June as a remaining entry route. The measure follows media investigations into alleged abuse and misconduct in units such as the 425th “Skala” and the 225th Assault Regiments, which had previously received expanded recruitment privileges. Ukrainian authorities have not commented publicly on the decision.