CHICAGO – Mykhailo Zabrodskyi, Hero of Ukraine, is a lieutenant general and a member of the newly elected Parliament of Ukraine. In 2014, Lt. Gen. Zabrodskyi launched a unique military raid, attacking the enemy from the rear of the enemy lines in Russian- and separatist-held territory to recover a significant area of the Russian-occupied territory and liberating 3,000 Ukrainian troops from their posts. This raid made history – it is being studied in military schools and the general himself has become a living legend. He is uniquely familiar with Ukraine’s military problems and understands what changes are required.
Lt. Gen Zabrodskyi spoke at a celebration of Ukraine’s Unification Day in Chicago on January 26, giving an hour-long presentation on how the Ukrainian Army has been rebuilt during recent years. He elaborated on the military support from the Verkhovna Rada and improved morale, and the differences between Western and post-Soviet military. Afterwards, he consented to an interview.