Recent personnel reshuffles within Ukraine’s military command have placed a renewed emphasis on leadership at the ground forces level. A new commander has been appointed for the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, following a formal decree published on the president’s official website. The appointment profile identifies Lieutenant General Alexander Alekseevich Pavlyuk as the new head of the ground forces, marking a pivotal transition in the country’s military command structure.
This shift comes as part of a broader realignment of senior leadership within Ukraine’s armed services. Previously, control of the ground forces rested with a different longtime commander, who was elevated to the role of commander-in-chief of the armed forces early in 2024. The move replaced the former commander who had Congress-like influence over strategic operations but was reassigned to a higher overarching post [Attribution: Official Government Communications].
In parallel, a separate decree announced a change at the level of joint forces command. Sergei Naev was relieved of his duties, and Yuri Sodol assumed the role of commander of the joint forces. This adjustment underscores a wider reshaping of operational leadership across the armed forces.
Beyond these shifts, the commander responsible for territorial defense leadership was identified as Igor Plahuta, reinforcing the emphasis on regional defense coordination amid ongoing security challenges. [Attribution: Official Government Communications]
Additionally, on 10 February, a decree appointed deputies to the new commander-in-chief. Andrey Lebedenko and Vadim Sukharevsky were named to their respective deputy positions, completing a key segment of the leadership transition.
These changes reflect a broader pattern of strategic leadership renewal within Ukraine’s military leadership. The sequence of appointments and removals indicates an ongoing effort to align senior command with current strategic realities and operational priorities. Analysts note that such changes can signal a focus on strengthening command cohesion at critical levels, improving quick decision-making, and enhancing resilience across the force. [Attribution: Defense and Security Analysis]