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“Together with Mykhailo Drapatyi and Yevhenii Khmara, we determined that Major General Ihor Skybiuk, a highly experienced military leader with whom the new Commander-in-Chief stood shoulder to shoulder in defense of Ukraine, will become the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The President added that decisions regarding the leadership change of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be formalized today, with the corresponding decrees currently being prepared.
Read also: Fedorov declines new government role, questions why he was removed as defense minister
The President also reported that following the meeting, he established new roles for former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and former Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov within Ukraine's defense framework.
The meeting, attended by the new military commanders, also focused on developing Ukrainian cyber forces, improving military training, strengthening unit capabilities, and expanding the corps system, while Zelenskyy noted that a more effective mobilization process remains the top priority for fulfilling defense missions.
Read also: Moscow places Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief Drapatyi on wanted list
The effectiveness of medium- and long-range strikes, alongside defensive operations in the Oleksandrivsk area, were analyzed during the meeting. Furthermore, steps were identified to accelerate the implementation of the Frey anti-ballistic missile program and coordinate with the United States on Patriot missile production licenses, according to Zelenskyy’s statement.
Read also: Kyiv Mayor reacts to Syrskyi’s departure, recalls his role in saving capital from encirclement
Ihor Skybiuk has served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2025. Prior to that role, he commanded the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces. In 2022, he led the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade, which liberated Izium during Ukraine's successful Kharkiv counteroffensive.
Syrskyi’s dismissal
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the evening of July 21, 2026, that Oleksandr Syrskyi would step down as Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a post he assumed in February 2024 following the dismissal of Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Joint Forces Commander Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, will take over as the new head of the army.
Oleksandr Syrskyi’s dismissal followed widespread protests across Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which erupted after Mykhailo Fedorov resigned as Defense Minister on July 16 and accused the Commander-in-Chief of blocking his team's initiatives and “weaving political intrigues”.
Read also: Kyiv protesters welcome Drapatyi as Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief
Yevhenii Khmara, the former head of the Security Service of Ukraine’s Alpha Special Operations Center, was appointed as defense minister.
Syrskyi announced his resignation on July 22, adding that he will serve Ukraine until victory.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Section: Nation
Author: Midian Al-Rifai
