On Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed Major-General Andriy Hnatov as the new chief of the general staff of Ukraine, as the government aims to accelerate military reforms.
A decree released on the presidential website indicated that General Hnatov, who previously served as deputy chief of staff, will take over from Lieutenant-General Anatoliy Barhilevych.
Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stated, “We are systematically transforming the armed forces to enhance their combat readiness. This involves revising the management structure and implementing clear standards.”
General Hnatov brings 27 years of military experience, having advanced from commanding a marine brigade to leading operations in the eastern Donetsk region.
According to the minister, Barhilevych will now focus on overseeing military standards and reinforcing discipline within the army.
As the war with Russia enters its fourth year, Ukraine is working to reorganize and fortify its military in the face of a significantly larger adversary.
Currently, Ukrainian forces are facing challenges on the battlefield, with troops retreating from Russia’s Kursk region and experiencing increased pressure in the eastern Donetsk area, where Russian forces have been making gains for several months.
Military analysts estimate that approximately 880,000 personnel are currently serving in the Ukrainian armed forces.
In spite of the ongoing wartime difficulties, Ukraine has initiated reforms to move away from its Soviet-era practices, aiming to enhance military efficiency by appointing younger commanders with combat experience and fostering innovation. Last year, the country established a dedicated unmanned systems force.
Earlier this year, Ukrainian military officials announced a shift from a brigade-based structure to a “corps” system, which consists of larger units designed to improve coordination among forces deployed along a frontline exceeding 1,000 kilometers and to expedite decision-making.
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Recently, one of Ukraine’s premier combat units, the 3rd separate assault brigade, declared its reorganization into a corps.
Commander Andriy Biletskyi stated in a video regarding the shift, “We intend to alter the strategies and tactics of this conflict. This signifies a change in the direction of the war to benefit Ukraine.”
