Headquarters should work for the troops, not the other way around: Drapatyi unveils principles for leading the military

This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The document outlines approaches to organizing military service, protecting service members, the operations of headquarters, and the implementation of combat experience.

1. Protecting people, cities, and villages

The top priority is to protect Ukraine and its population. To this end, the Armed Forces of Ukraine must stabilize the front, build up combat capabilities, and seize the initiative wherever possible.

2. People Are the Most Valuable Combat Capability

Commanders are responsible not only for the outcome but also for their service members. They must ensure proper training, avoid unnecessary risks, assist the wounded, and support the families of those who have died.

3. Predictable and Fair Military Service

The system for recruitment, training, service, rotation, and discharge must be clear to service members. Personnel decisions must be based on the needs of the military, professionalism, and performance.

4. Honesty and accountability

Commanders must honestly assess the situation, address problems, and take responsibility for the decisions they make. There must be no corruption, abuse of power, discrimination, or injustice in the military.

5. Staff Departments Work for the Troops

Staff processes should support the troops rather than create an additional burden. The goal is to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, duplication, and reporting, as well as to speed up decision-making.

6. Learn Faster Than the Enemy

The Armed Forces of Ukraine must quickly implement lessons learned from war, adapt, and foster innovation. Useful ideas should come from service members regardless of their rank or position.

7. Act as a unified force

No single branch, service, or individual brigade can win on its own. The actions of the various components of the Armed Forces of Ukraine must be coordinated, and the lessons of war must be transformed into a collective advantage.

8. Build a Stronger Armed Forces

The Armed Forces of Ukraine must simultaneously wage war today and prepare for the future. The goal is to emerge from the war stronger, create an effective military, and provide Ukraine with such defensive capabilities that an aggressor in the future will not consider an attack an acceptable means of achieving its goals.

Drapatiy emphasized that every commander must leave behind a unit that is stronger than the one he took command of.

As a reminder, on August 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi, visited the front lines in the Oleksandrivka sector, where he met with soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Airborne Assault Brigade.