Ukraine Has a New General Staff Chief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is continuing to make sweeping personnel changes in the leadership of the armed forces. Major General Ihor Skybiuk has been appointed the new Chief of the General Staff, replacing Andriy Hnatov.

Zelensky described Skybiuk as a highly experienced officer who has long fought to defend Ukraine alongside the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mykhailo Drapatyi.

The change comes a day after the president dismissed Oleksandr Syrskyi from his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and appointed Drapaty to replace him.

The personnel changes come amid the ongoing war with Russia and signal Kyiv's efforts to reorganize the highest levels of military command.

Zelensky has not yet commented in detail on the reasons for the changes or the new roles of the dismissed commanders.

(Reuters, mja)