Latest news with #LandForces
West Australian
01-08-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
'Great risk' as police gear up for protest clash
Extra police are being called in to quash concerns pro-Palestine protesters will cause havoc in a busy city precinct and prevent emergency workers from doing their job. Free Palestine protesters are expected to march through Melbourne's CBD on Sunday, aiming to block the King Street Bridge. Victoria Police Superintendent Troy Papworth said officers had tried to engage with organisers in an effort to alter the planned action, but those attempts were unsuccessful. He warned the protest posed a "great risk" and would ultimately obstruct emergency services from performing their duties. "Purposely blocking a major thoroughfare through the city is a risk that we just can't take and we won't stand for it," Supt Papworth told reporters on Friday. "We've tried to engage with this group and strongly encourage them to change their plans and not occupy the bridge." Supt Papworth warned people against causing major disruption, referencing scenes witnessed during the Land Forces action in September 2024, when protesters clashed with police and dozens were arrested. "We do have intelligence holdings on a small group of people who intend on causing confrontation and engaging behaviour at this protest," he added. "If people engage in criminal behaviour, they can expect to be arrested and dealt with." Police will take to the streets on Sunday, with some officers being asked to work on their rest days, while others will be redeployed from four other regions, including Geelong. "There will be financial impacts to this," Supt Papworth said. It comes as thousands of people are expected to join a separate protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. NSW Police have sought to have the rally declared unauthorised, which would give officers the power to arrest participants for obstructing traffic. An online petition calling for the march to go ahead has attracted more than 15,000 signatures. The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm says it will march in solidarity with communities in Sydney on Sunday. "Bring pots and pans to highlight the manufactured starvation that is causing mass casualties in Gaza," organisers said on social media. "These shut downs are in preparation for international mass strikes, sanctions and blockades to end Israeli impunity." Police have urged organisers in Melbourne to reconsider their plans, noting that this weekend marks the 92nd pro-Palestine rally Victoria Police have managed since October 7, 2023. Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio on Friday vowed any protest activity that blocked emergency services "won't be tolerated". "What I say about this coming weekend, is that there will be no tolerance for any protest that obstructs or interferes with the safe passage of emergency services vehicles on the roads," she said.
Perth Now
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Great risk' as police gear up for protest clash
Extra police are being called in to quash concerns pro-Palestine protesters will cause havoc in a busy city precinct and prevent emergency workers from doing their job. Free Palestine protesters are expected to march through Melbourne's CBD on Sunday, aiming to block the King Street Bridge. Victoria Police Superintendent Troy Papworth said officers had tried to engage with organisers in an effort to alter the planned action, but those attempts were unsuccessful. He warned the protest posed a "great risk" and would ultimately obstruct emergency services from performing their duties. "Purposely blocking a major thoroughfare through the city is a risk that we just can't take and we won't stand for it," Supt Papworth told reporters on Friday. "We've tried to engage with this group and strongly encourage them to change their plans and not occupy the bridge." Supt Papworth warned people against causing major disruption, referencing scenes witnessed during the Land Forces action in September 2024, when protesters clashed with police and dozens were arrested. "We do have intelligence holdings on a small group of people who intend on causing confrontation and engaging behaviour at this protest," he added. "If people engage in criminal behaviour, they can expect to be arrested and dealt with." Police will take to the streets on Sunday, with some officers being asked to work on their rest days, while others will be redeployed from four other regions, including Geelong. "There will be financial impacts to this," Supt Papworth said. It comes as thousands of people are expected to join a separate protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. NSW Police have sought to have the rally declared unauthorised, which would give officers the power to arrest participants for obstructing traffic. An online petition calling for the march to go ahead has attracted more than 15,000 signatures. The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm says it will march in solidarity with communities in Sydney on Sunday. "Bring pots and pans to highlight the manufactured starvation that is causing mass casualties in Gaza," organisers said on social media. "These shut downs are in preparation for international mass strikes, sanctions and blockades to end Israeli impunity." Police have urged organisers in Melbourne to reconsider their plans, noting that this weekend marks the 92nd pro-Palestine rally Victoria Police have managed since October 7, 2023. Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio on Friday vowed any protest activity that blocked emergency services "won't be tolerated". "What I say about this coming weekend, is that there will be no tolerance for any protest that obstructs or interferes with the safe passage of emergency services vehicles on the roads," she said.
Russia Today
05-06-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Ukrainian general reassigned days after stepping down
Ukrainian General Mikhail Drapaty has been assigned to a top military post just days after submitting his resignation as the head of Ukraine's Land Forces. The move comes amid reports of increased infighting among senior Ukrainian military officials. Kiev's forces have experienced setbacks on the battlefield since late 2023, following an attempted counteroffensive that failed to breach Russian defenses. Reports of mounting frustration and internal tensions have circulated as battlefield momentum has shifted in Russia's favor. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky announced on Tuesday that Drapaty – who had resigned after accepting responsibility for fatal Russian strikes on military training sites – will now lead a specialized command established in 2020 to help align Ukraine's armed forces with NATO operational methods. The position is currently tasked with overseeing frontline operations against Russia. In his new role, Drapaty will 'focus solely on combat issues,' while a separate appointee will manage troop training, Zelensky said. The move is part of a broader reshuffle within Ukraine's military leadership. Announcing his resignation, Drapaty had criticized the Ukrainian military's failure to learn from past mistakes or to hold senior officers accountable. He condemned what he described as a culture of mutual self-protection within senior ranks, calling it 'poison for the army' and saying Ukraine 'cannot win' without reforms to its armed forces. Drapaty reiterated his call for changes in a statement confirming his reassignment. Critics blame entrenched interests in the Ukrainian military for pervasive corruption, disregard for soldiers' lives, tendency to cover up battlefield problems from superiors up the command chain, and impunity for wrongdoing. Several media outlets have interpreted Drapaty's remarks as a veiled critique of General Aleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine's commander-in-chief. Commentary on the website has suggested that Zelensky's leadership shake-up may have been designed to balance influence between Syrsky's supporters and dissenting voices within the military. Zelensky dismissed Syrsky's predecessor, General Valery Zaluzhny, in early 2024 after Zaluzhny publicly questioned Kiev's strategic outlook. He argued that the conflict with Russia had reached a stalemate, contradicting public assurances from civilian leaders. Zaluzhny was sacked from the military and appointed ambassador to the UK. The Ukrainian military has since undergone multiple reshuffles of leadership, as the situation on the frontline increasingly turned in Russia's favor. Drapaty was given command of the Land Forces in November 2024.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Zelensky summons Drapatyi, who submitted resignation over Russian strike on Ukrainian training camp
President Volodymyr Zelensky has summoned Land Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi for a high-level meeting after the latter submitted his resignation following a deadly Russian missile strike that killed at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers at a training camp in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Zelensky said on June 1. The meeting, scheduled following peace talks with a Russian delegation in Istanbul on June 2, will include top military officials: Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. "I scheduled a meeting... to sort it all out," Zelensky said in a video address. "All our combat soldiers are needed at the front — to defend Ukraine. Every one of them. And we must protect every life. All decisions necessary to ensure this will be made." The strike hit the 239th Polygon, a Ground Forces training ground north of the city of Dnipro. Drapatyi, confirming the location and announcing his resignation, said the victims were mostly young recruits who "should have learned, lived, and fought — not died." Drapatyi's superiors have yet to confirm whether his resignation has been accepted. Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian training sites have intensified in recent months. The 239th Polygon was also struck by an Iskander missile in March. The Land Forces press office said that if the investigation finds negligence or misconduct contributed to the casualties, those responsible will face strict accountability. Read also: 12 Ukrainian soldiers dead, 60 injured after Russian missile strike on training center We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ukrainian Land Forces Commander resigns after Russian attack that killed 12 soldiers on training grounds
The head of the Land Forces of Ukraine resigned on June 1 following a Russian attack that killed 12 service members under his command. "I have made the decision to file a letter of resignation from the position of Commander of the Land Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi in a statement on Telegram. "Twelve dead. There are injured. These are young lads from the training battalion. Most of them were in shelters. They should have learned, lived, and fought – not died." Drapatyi was referring to an incident in the morning of June 1 in which a Russian missile attack struck a training field and killed 12 soldiers and wounded 60 more. The field was at the time unidentified, but Drapatiy named it as the 239th Polygon, north of the city of Dnipro. Russia has targeted Ukrainian training grounds aggressively in recent months. The 239th Polygon was also the site of a similar attack with an Iskander ballistic missile in March. At the time, Drapatyi wrote: "Everyone who made decisions that day, and everyone who did not make them on time, will be held accountable. No one will hide behind explanations or formal reports." In its announcement of the June 1 attack, the Land Forces press office wrote: "In the event of a determination that the action or inaction of responsible individuals led to the death and injury of servicemen, those responsible will be brought to strict accountability." Read also: 12 Ukrainian soldiers dead, 60 injured after Russian missile strike on training center We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
