Kyiv: The newly appointed commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, announced plans for a "comprehensive transformation" within his division aimed at enhancing troop training, management, and recruitment, according to Kyiv's statement on Friday. This shift comes as Ukraine faces severe manpower challenges on the frontlines.

Drapatyi, who took over the role last month, aims to overhaul the military’s approach as Ukraine’s under-resourced army struggles to counter Russia's advancing forces in the east, which have been making rapid gains since 2022. The planned reforms will address various areas, including training methods, battlefield tactics, and logistical management, with a focus on reducing corruption, integrating technology, and reinforcing the role of non-commissioned officers.

“Currently, the ground forces need a transformation, a new vigor among the soldiers, and a forward-thinking approach to developing their capabilities,” Drapatyi stated during a high-level security meeting.

Ukraine has tried to bolster its ranks through both mobilization and Western-style recruitment, but challenges persist, with reports of corruption, subpar training, and poor leadership undermining morale. Desertions are also rising as soldiers, worn down physically and mentally after nearly three years of conflict, continue to leave the frontlines.

“Change is coming, without a doubt,” Drapatyi remarked. “No matter how difficult it is, we have no choice but to proceed with it.”

In the same vein, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged on Thursday for reforms at training centers that would allow recruits to receive direct guidance from battlefield commanders. He also appointed a prominent brigade commander as a senior advisor for frontline strategy.

The fighting continues to intensify as both Ukraine and Russia seek to strengthen their positions ahead of potential peace talks, expected after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month.

Ukraine is under increasing pressure from the outgoing Biden administration to lower its draft age, a suggestion Ukrainian authorities have rejected, citing the need for more Western-supplied military equipment for those already mobilized. While the country did lower the draft age to 25 from 27 in April, it has been steadily losing ground in the east, despite launching an offensive in Russia’s Kursk region.

Kyiv is reluctant to lower the draft age further, fearing the strain it could place on its already weakened demographic due to the war, which has seen tens of thousands of soldiers killed and millions of civilians flee the country.