President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that General Oleksandr Syrskyi has been appointed the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Zelensky announced this in a video message.
Previously, Colonel General Syrskyi was the commander of the Army.
"I am grateful to General Zaluzhny for two years of defence. I am grateful for every victory we have achieved together and thanks to all the Ukrainian soldiers who are heroically enduring this war.
Today we had a frank discussion about what needs to change in the army. Urgent changes. I have offered General Zaluzhnyi to continue to be part of the team of the Ukrainian state. I would be grateful for his consent," Zelensky said.
"Starting today, a new management team takes over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I want our soldiers in Robotyn or Avdiivka, the General Staff and the General Staff to have the same vision of the war," the President said in his address.
"In particular, today I spoke with Brigadier Generals Andriy Hnatov, Mykhailo Drapaty, Ihor Skybyuk and Colonels Pavlo Palisa and Vadym Sukharevskyi.
All of them are being considered for leadership positions in the army and will serve under the leadership of the most experienced Ukrainian commander," Zelensky added.
Earlier, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov confirmed that the President's Office had decided to dismiss Valeriy Zaluzhnyi from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"Today it was decided to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am sincerely grateful to Valeriy Fedorovich for all his achievements and victories," he wrote on Facebook.
"War does not remain the same. War changes and requires changes. The fighting in 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes that we must be prepared for. We need new approaches, new strategies," he added.