Kyiv, 17 March (IANS). Ukrainian President Volodimir Jailonsky has appointed Major General Andrey Hanatov as the chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff in place of Lieutenant General Anatoli Barhilevich.
The reasons for the dismissal and appointment of Hanatov on the President’s website have not been clarified.
According to the Xinhua news agency report, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustom Umerov wrote on Facebook that the purpose of reshuffle in the armed forces is to increase their war skills.
Umerov appreciated the promotion in a Facebook post, saying, “We are systematically changing Ukraine’s armed forces to increase their war skills.”
Umerov mentioned that Hanatov has a military experience of over 27 years, he has previously commanded a marine brigade, operational command East soldiers and joint forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to a statement by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Barhalvich has been appointed as the Chief Inspector of the Ministry with a mission to ensure compliance with military standards and strengthen discipline within the armed forces.
Barhilvich began functioning as the head of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in February 2024.
More than three years after the war with Russia, Ukraine is slowly retreating on several fronts, as there is a lack of manpower. Kiev is trying to modernize the army, so that long -standing issues such as command culture and resource management can be resolved.
Taking advantage of the experience of NATO partners, Ukraine is currently trying to implement the core system rather than a brigade in an attempt to improve harmony.
Umroov wrote in the same Facebook post “The change continues.”
Military analysts estimate that around 880,000 people are currently serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Despite the war -time challenges, the country has applied changes to renounce the Soviet heritage and make its army more efficient, appointed young commanders with war -experiences and support innovations. Last year, Ukraine introduced a dedicated unmanned system force.
Earlier this year, Ukrainian military officials had said that the country would move from its brigade -based system to the “core” system of large units, aimed at improving coordination between its forces spread over the border region over 1,000 kilometers and accelerate the decision making process.
-IANS
KR/