President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He announced this in an evening video address on February 8.
"I have appointed Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From today, a new management team takes over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I want the vision of the war to be unified, whether it's in Robotyne or Avdiivka, at the General Staff or at the Headquarters", - Zelensky said.
"I had dozens of conversations with commanders at various levels. I spoke, in particular, with brigade generals Andriy Hnatov, Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Ihor Skybiuk, as well as colonels Pavlo Palisa and Vadym Sukharevskyi.
They are all being considered for army leadership positions, and they will be led by Ukraine's most experienced commander. He has successful defensive experience, particularly in the Kyiv defense operation. He also has successful offensive experience, particularly in the Kharkiv liberation operation", - the President said.
It is noteworthy that earlier, Zelensky met with Lieutenant General Valerii Zaluzhnyi and offered him to "stay in the team".
As reported, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that a decision to change the military leadership in Ukraine was made on February 8.