Ankara: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a broad reshuffle of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Thursday, appointing a new commander of its elite special operations unit and replacing regional SBU chiefs in eight regions.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy stated in a post on Dubai-based Telegram that Brig. Gen. Oleh Fedorov has been appointed head of the SBU's Alpha Special Operations Center, succeeding Yevhen Khmara, who is currently serving as acting defense minister. The president also appointed permanent heads of the SBU's regional directorates in the Chernivtsi, Sumy, Poltava, Cherkasy, Lviv, Ternopil, Mykolaiv, and Zhytomyr regions.

Separately, Zelenskyy named former acting Economy Minister Oleksii Sobolev as the new deputy head of the presidential office. Sobolev has previously served in various ministerial roles and was involved in talks with US officials in Geneva in February.

These appointments are part of a broader overhaul of Ukraine's senior military and government leadership. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian parliament approved a new Cabinet, although the positions of foreign minister and defense minister remain vacant, with Yevhen Khmara continuing as acting defense minister. On July 22, Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, succeeding Oleksandr Syrskyi, amidst ongoing changes in the country's military leadership.