President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a significant change to Ukraine’s military leadership, replacing Anatoliy Bargylevych with Andriy Gnatov as chief of general staff. The move comes as Ukrainian forces face continued pressure on the front lines and is aimed at improving the country’s military effectiveness in response to ongoing challenges.
Gnatov, a veteran with more than 27 years of military experience, has been tasked with revitalizing Ukraine’s military planning by bringing a more combat-focused approach. Zelensky noted that Gnatov’s leadership would incorporate valuable frontline experience into the planning of both defensive and offensive operations.
“The goal is to fully integrate the lessons learned from our brigades into the strategic level,” Zelensky said, emphasizing the importance of drawing on real combat experience to enhance the overall effectiveness of Ukraine’s armed forces.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also highlighted that this change was part of a larger effort to overhaul Ukraine’s military structure. Umerov stated that the country is committed to reshaping its command system to strengthen coordination and improve combat readiness.
Bargylevych, who served as chief of general staff during a crucial period of Ukraine’s defense, will now take on a new role as the chief inspector at the Ministry of Defense.
This reshuffle comes as Ukraine continues to face heavy fighting in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces have made slow but steady advances despite facing significant losses. With this leadership change, Ukraine is signaling its intent to refine its defense strategies and respond more effectively to the ongoing conflict.
