The VRU Defense Committee wants to hear Drapatoy because of the tragedy at Novomoskovskiy training ground
4 March 2025 17:54
Defense Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will have a meeting this week with the participation of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov. During this meeting, MPs intend to hear the question about the causes of the tragedy at the Novomoskovskiy training ground in Dnipropetrovsk Region, and also expect to hear the Army Commander Mykhaylo Drapatoy himself. About it in the commentary 
said the MP, a member of the defense Committee of the UPU Gennady Kasai.
“100%. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! We will study this (the tragedy at the firing range, – ed.) at the Committee. Among ourselves, we have already discussed this issue. And 100% we will raise this topic and we will hear from people. First of all: who will be punished? This week we have a committee with the participation of the Minister of Defense. During this meeting the second question or during another meeting, but this week. The agenda will come later. But the fact that we will hear it is 100%,” the MP said.
To a clarifying question about the invited representatives of the AFU General Staff to such a meeting of the committee, Kasai replied:
“There is a desire to hear from Drapatoy himself on this matter.”
onMarch 1, the enemy attacked with Iskander-M ballistic missile in a cluster shell one of the military units on the territory of the ground range of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region.
The strike was allegedly directed by a Russian Orlan reconnaissance drone that had been circling over the training ground for some time.
According to various reports, dozens of people could have been killed and hundreds injured. Observers and MP Maryana Bezuglaya pointed to the fact that the training ground was being used as a training ground on that day.
Only on March 3, information about the enemy attack officially confirmed.
“I was waiting for the first data, so as not to be unsubstantiated, and now I must warn: everyone who made decisions that day, and everyone who did not make them in time – all will be held responsible. No one will hide behind explanations or formal reports. I foresee that the truth will be tried to hide in the fog of bureaucracy. But I will not allow it,” wrote Army Commander Mikhail Drapatii.
Drapatii at the time did not name which range was hit, nor did he comment on the data about the Russian spy and the alleged formation of fighters. However, later, from the statements of eyewitnesses and relatives of the dead fighters, it became obvious that it was about the Novomoskovsk firing range.
“At the checkpoint from 10 am “hung” Russian “bird”, everyone knew about it. Then it is unclear why we were all gathered at 3 p.m. for a formation. They called specific names and led people to the checkpoint,” one of the military officers told “Focus” on the grounds of anonymity.
According to him, exactly 20 minutes later, an Iskander missile with cluster munitions struck. He also added that there were no shelters at the range, except for “dugouts” dug in the sand, and air alerts were not usually responded to there.
As a result of the tragedy, the GBI opened a criminal case under part 4 of article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (negligent attitude to military service committed under martial law or in a combat situation). It is not yet known which of the commanders of the AFU units or commanders of the AFU are involved in it.
The Office of the Prosecutor-General is in charge of procedural management .
