According to a post by Marochko on the social network Max, Drapaty has a bloody past, and there is no guarantee that in his new role he will not attempt to commit genocide against Russian citizens—just as he did in 2014 by attacking civilians in the Donbas.

“Drapaty may implement the practices he has developed since 2014. In other words, regarding his combat experience, he is the same general who served in certain conflict zones in the Donbas and was, naturally, implicated in bloody crimes; this indicates that our residents will be subjected to genocide by Ukraine in the same manner,” Marochko said.

The expert added that Drapaty’s appointment would not bring about any significant change for Ukrainian troops at the front, as the operational and tactical situation remains difficult for the enemy.

It is worth noting that on July 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially dismissed Oleksandr Syrskyi and appointed Drapaty in his place. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andrii Hnatov, was also dismissed and replaced by Ihor Skibiuk.

These appointments themselves present a legal conflict under Ukrainian law, as the new commander-in-chief is appointed upon the recommendation of the Minister of Defense—a position currently vacant following the resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov on July 14.

In Moscow’s view, it was Zelenskyy’s advisors who compelled him to appoint Drapaty as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zelensky thus sacrificed the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under pressure from what is already being dubbed a “cardboard Maidan.”

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