Biletsky and Prokopenko to lead two renewed groupings in Donetsk region – Zelenskyy

Ukrainian positions in Donetsk region will be reinforced with two renewed groupings, commanded by Heroes of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko and Andriy Biletsky. At the same time, the military leadership is preparing decisions to increase production and procurement of ground robotic systems and more systematic use of deep strikes.

This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after meetings with the military and command in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

According to him, further steps regarding active defense were determined together with the commander of the Joint Forces Mykhailo Drapaty, the General Staff, and Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara.

Zelenskyy named the reinforcement of Ukrainian positions in Donetsk region as the first decision.

"Our positions in Donetsk region will be reinforced thanks to two renewed groupings. The commanders will be Hero of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko and Hero of Ukraine Andriy Biletsky", - the president said.

Zelenskyy did not specify the structure of these groupings, their areas of responsibility, and did not say which one each commander would lead.

The president also noted that during the trip he heard a report from the commander of the Air Assault Forces Oleh Apostol and discussed the situation directly in the Zaporizhzhia direction with the commanders.

Production of ground robotic systems planned to increase

A separate block of decisions concerns the technological support of units. According to Zelenskyy, the military in the Zaporizhzhia direction should receive more necessary means.

In particular, this concerns ground robotic systems (GRS). The president stated the need to increase both their production and government procurement.

"Decisions are needed to have more production and more procurement", - Zelenskyy said.

GRS are used on the front for logistics, evacuation of the wounded, delivery of ammunition and cargo, mining, reconnaissance and combat tasks without direct presence of troops in the most dangerous zones.

Zelenskyy announced more systematic approach to deep strikes

Another direction the president called deep strikes - strikes on Russian targets in operational depth. According to him, the authorities are preparing decisions for a more systematic approach to such operations.

Zelenskyy did not give specific parameters - number of means, strike range or future funding volumes.

He also said that together with the defense minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces he agreed on "necessary personnel decisions", but did not disclose which positions or units they concern.

During his address, the president separately mentioned the Oleksandrivka offensive operation, which Ukrainian forces have been conducting since last year. According to him, its results allowed to push back Russian forces and inflict significant losses. However, Zelenskyy did not announce any new specific results of this operation.

Based on: Volodymyr Zelenskyy