Ankara: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday that Ihor Skybiuk will assume the role of the country's new chief of General Staff as part of an ongoing military reshuffle.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy shared on the social media platform X that the decision was made collaboratively with Ukraine's new Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi and acting Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara. Skybiuk's appointment is a strategic move aimed at maintaining coordination within the Armed Forces. The official decree for these changes is currently being prepared.

Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of cohesive functioning among military components and also mentioned plans for former Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and former Chief of General Staff Andrii Hnatov to continue their service in the defense sector.

This reshuffle is part of a broader wartime military and governmental restructuring in Ukraine, which has included the dismissal of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sparking protests throughout the nation. Yevhenii Khmara assumed the role of acting defense minister on Monday, while Drapatyi was named to replace Syrskyi as commander-in-chief.

In an address on Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy acknowledged Syrskyi's contributions to Ukraine's defense, highlighting his successes in Kyiv's defense, the Kharkiv offensive, and the Kursk operation. He expressed gratitude toward Syrskyi and Drapatyi for their dedication to Ukraine's military objectives.

On Wednesday, Syrskyi confirmed his departure from the commander-in-chief position via a Telegram statement. He reflected on his tenure, noting the army's readiness to continue its offensive efforts and the significant territorial gains made since the year's start.

The Presidential Office of Ukraine later published the official decrees for the appointments of Skybiuk and Drapatyi, as well as the dismissals of Syrskyi and Hnatov.