Zelenskyy appoints new chief of Ukraine's General Staff amid leadership shake-up
Photo: New chief of the General Staff Ihor Skybiuk (video screenshot)
The name of the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been revealed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented that the position will be filled by an experienced general who fought alongside the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Who will lead the General Staff
A decree appointing the new leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is already being prepared, Zelenskyy announced following a meeting.
Together with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi, and Yevhen Khmara, it was decided that Major General Ihor Skybiuk will become the new Chief of the General Staff. He has extensive combat experience and previously served alongside the new Commander-in-Chief.
According to the president, all branches of the military must continue operating in close coordination. The meeting also determined the future roles of Oleksandr Syrskyi and Andrii Hnatov.
What we know about the new Chief of the General Staff
Ihor Anatoliiovych Skybiuk is a Major General who most recently served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Year of birth: 1977.
Education:
- 1998 – Odesa Institute of Land Forces;
- 2011 – National Defense University of Ukraine;
- 2024 – National Defense University of Ukraine.
Skybiuk advanced through every level of military service, from commander of an airmobile platoon to deputy brigade commander and chief of the airborne service of a separate air assault brigade of Ukraine's Highly Mobile Airborne Forces.
From 2001 to 2002, he commanded a special platoon within the special company of the Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent in Kosovo, Serbia.
He later held the following positions:
- Chief of Staff and First Deputy Commander of a separate air assault brigade of the Air Assault Forces;
- Commander of a separate air assault brigade of the Air Assault Forces;
- Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Air Assault Forces;
- Commander of the Air Assault Forces.
Since June 3, 2025, he has served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Awards: Hero of Ukraine, recipient of state and departmental honors.
As previously reported, on July 21, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to replace the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, appointing Mykhailo Drapatyi to the position.
The decision came after mass protests in Kyiv and other cities over the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Earlier, on July 14, Ukraine's parliament approved the resignation of the government led by Yuliia Svyrydenko.
