President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced a shakeup of Ukraine's military on Tuesday, including the appointment to a new post of a commander who tendered his resignation over a deadly Russian attack.
Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address after a meeting of top commanders, said the reshuffle sought to ensure that the military remained focused on combat more than three years after Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour.
The president said Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi, who offered to quit as commander of Ukraine's land forces over an attack on a training area last weekend, would now serve as the new commander of joint forces.
"Mykhailo Drapatyi will now focus exclusively on combat matters and has been appointed Commander of the Joint Forces so that he can fully dedicate himself to the front line," Zelenskyy said.
The president said another officer, who he did not identify, would be placed in charge of land forces and responsible "for tasks like training, preparation, changes in the territorial recruitment centres".
Drapatyi, writing earlier on Facebook, said the president was keeping him in service at the front.
"The president listened, expressed support and encouraged me to focus on the most important things - the war, the front and victory," he wrote.
Zelenskyy said the appointment of Oleh Apostol as commander of paratroops and Robert Brovdi as commander of unmanned systems had also been approved.
"This is also part of a broader focus on combat matters," he said. "The successful experience of the best brigades must be scaled across the entire army."
He said that Vadym Sukharevskyi had been appointed Commander of the Eastern Operational Command with the task of modernising that command. Ihor Skybiuk was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a new prisoner exchange, officials from both countries confirmed on Thursday, following talks earlier this month in Türkiye.
North Korea may send more troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine as early as July or August, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency, which also says Pyongyang is continuing arms shipments to Moscow.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 26th June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday signed an agreement with the Council of Europe to establish a special tribunal to address the "crime of aggression" related to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
NATO member states have agreed to raise their defence spending target to 5% of GDP, marking a sharp increase from the previous 2% goal.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned a US-supported aid operation in Gaza, calling it “inherently unsafe” and blaming it for civilian deaths.
Five senior Greek government officials, including a cabinet minister, have resigned amid an EU fraud investigation over the mismanagement of farming subsidies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada, citing Ottawa’s plan to implement a digital tax targeting major tech firms.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement, raising hopes of ending fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would consider further bombing of Iranian nuclear sites if Tehran’s uranium enrichment reaches levels that raise concerns in Washington.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
In a televised address on Saturday night, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that American forces, in coordination with Israel, had conducted precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, aiming to dismantle Tehran’s enrichment capabilities.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned a US-supported aid operation in Gaza, calling it “inherently unsafe” and blaming it for civilian deaths.
Five senior Greek government officials, including a cabinet minister, have resigned amid an EU fraud investigation over the mismanagement of farming subsidies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada, citing Ottawa’s plan to implement a digital tax targeting major tech firms.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement, raising hopes of ending fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would consider further bombing of Iranian nuclear sites if Tehran’s uranium enrichment reaches levels that raise concerns in Washington.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned a US-supported aid operation in Gaza, calling it “inherently unsafe” and blaming it for civilian deaths.
Five senior Greek government officials, including a cabinet minister, have resigned amid an EU fraud investigation over the mismanagement of farming subsidies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada, citing Ottawa’s plan to implement a digital tax targeting major tech firms.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement, raising hopes of ending fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would consider further bombing of Iranian nuclear sites if Tehran’s uranium enrichment reaches levels that raise concerns in Washington.
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