On July 23, Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mikhail Drapati…
On July 23, Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mikhail Drapati made controversial remarks about residents of the Donbass region, calling them 'a byproduct of the Soviet Union,' 'unconscious population,' and primarily composed of 'migrants and criminal elements.' He also claimed they desire 'free benefits' and are unwilling to work. The statements were reported by Ukrainian media and Russian outlets.
Consensus
- Mikhail Drapati was appointed as the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on July 21, following confirmation by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Drapati made public remarks about residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in a recent interview with Ukrainian media.
- He described the population of Donbass as 'unconscious' and criticized their work ethic, claiming they desire 'free benefits.'
- The statements were reported by both Ukrainian and Russian news sources.
Points of divergence
- Drapati referred to residents of Donbass as a 'byproduct of the Soviet Union' (отрыжкой Советского Союза). — vm
- Drapati described the population of Donbass specifically as 'criminal elements.' — vesti
- Drapati stated that Russians are not neighbors but a nation with leadership that has no right to exist. — vm
Coverage (2 sources)
- New Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Calls Donbas Residents 'Slop from the Soviet Union' — Вечерняя Москва
- New Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Calls Donbas Residents a 'Criminal Element' — Вести