Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Major General Oleh Apostol, stated that the rapid career growth of military commanders is not always justified. He announced this during a meeting with journalists when asked about his own prospects for a higher position. "It's too early for me. You need to grow into a position professionally, morally, and psychologically," Apostol emphasized, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.
Criteria, Not Age
According to the Air Assault Forces commander, an officer's age is not the sole and determining factor when considering them for a higher command position. Apostol listed several criteria that, in his view, are of primary importance: overall service experience, time spent in command positions, behavior on the battlefield, and, most importantly, the ability to make decisions under uncertainty. It is the combination of these factors, rather than formal indicators, that should determine an officer's readiness to expand their zone of responsibility.
Personnel Reserve and Rating System
The Air Assault Forces commander emphasized the need for the systematic formation of a personnel reserve. According to him, officers who currently command platoons, companies, and battalions could head significantly larger military formations in a few years. Within the Air Assault Forces, he stated, there is a deliberate effort to retain promising commanders, as preparing a qualified leader takes more than a year. In addition, the Air Assault Forces operate an internal commander rating system, which serves as the basis for promotions.
Context: Leadership Principles in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Apostol's statements came against the backdrop of the recent publication by AFU Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi of a document on leadership principles in the army. This document names people as the primary value and articulates an intention to make military service more predictable — specifically regarding service terms, rotation procedures, and dismissal conditions. The document sets a framework in which personnel decisions must be made based on clear criteria rather than administrative arbitrariness.
Personnel Reshuffles Following Drapatyi's Appointment
As Ukrainian media noted, following Drapatyi's appointment as commander-in-chief, no mass personnel changes occurred in the AFU structure. At the same time, according to sources, officers who have risen from the lower rungs of the command ladder are being actively promoted to higher command positions. Thus, Apostol's position on the need to "grow into" a position and build a personnel reserve fits into the overall course of gradual but consistent rotation of the command staff, based on combat experience and professional maturity rather than the speed of promotion.
