Zelenskyy Appoints New Heads of Army And Joint Forces Operation

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instituted changes in the leadership of Ukraine’s armed forces, appointing Serhiy Nayev as the commander of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. This is the second time Nayev will be taking command of the JFO – he previously held the same post from March 2018 to May 2019.

Nayev will be replacing Lieutenant-General Volodymyr Kravchenko.

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Viktor Muzhenko, has also been replaced – his successor has been named as Ruslan Khomchak, the former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new Chief of the General Staff is Serhiy Korniychuk, previously Khomchak’s first deputy.

These appointments follow a parliamentary vote held on March 4, authorizing shake-ups in the command structure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.