Lieutenant General Sergei Naev, who until recently led the joint forces of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, was dismissed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a period of public reporting. Naev announced the news on his Telegram channel, expressing that his tenure had been among the most challenging chapters in Ukraine’s military history. He thanked his colleagues for their trust, support, and coordinated effort that sustained operations across the joint force. Since 2020 Naev had served as the commander of Ukraine’s joint forces, overseeing a wide area of responsibility that included joint operations, logistics, and integration across branches of the armed services. The dismissal marks a significant shift in Ukraine’s military leadership as the country continues to adapt to evolving security demands and strategic priorities. The decision appears part of Zelensky’s broader personnel reshuffles intended to strengthen command and align leadership with shifting battlefield and political imperatives, both at home and in international discussions on security assistance. Naev’s leadership period encompassed multiple critical drills, operational reforms, and coordination efforts with partners in North America and Europe, during a time when Ukraine faced sustained pressure on multiple fronts and sought to maintain unity of command across its defense ecosystem.
On February 11, Zelensky signed a series of decree amendments affecting top military command posts. Naev was succeeded as commander of the joint forces by Lieutenant General Yuri Sodol, while Alexander Pavlyuk took over as head of the ground forces and Igor Skibyuk assumed leadership of the air assault forces. Igor Plakhuta became the commander of the defense forces as part of the reshuffle. These changes reflect a broader reboot of senior leadership aimed at reinforcing operational readiness, streamlining command structures, and ensuring that strategic objectives are pursued through a cohesive leadership team at different levels of the Ukrainian military. The reshuffle, widely anticipated in defense circles, signals a clear intent to refresh the cadre and align capabilities with the latest defense planning and international support frameworks that Kyiv continues to rely on in its ongoing security posture.
Earlier in February, Zelensky announced the removal of Valery Zaluzhny from the post of commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces and appointed Alexander Syrsky to that role. Syrsky’s elevation followed a broader decision to appoint him as the deputy commander in chief, a move designed to bolster strategic planning and execution at the highest level of command. This sequence of leadership changes illustrates Kyiv’s approach to governance of the armed forces: adapting to changing operational challenges, integrating new strategic perspectives, and maintaining an emphasis on accountability and performance as the country navigates its security commitments with international partners. The transition underscores the ongoing process of modernization and the emphasis on ensuring a capable and interoperable command structure that can operate efficiently in concert with allied forces and coalition support programs.
Looking ahead, Ukrainian observers note that such leadership shifts are part of a long-term effort to sustain military effectiveness while balancing political considerations from domestic constituencies and international allies. In this context, the new commanders are expected to bring continuity to ongoing campaigns, reinforce existing alliances, and drive further reform across the armed forces. The focus remains on delivering effective command, rapid decision-making, and unified implementation of defense priorities that align with both national goals and the expectations of partners in North America and Europe who provide critical security assistance and strategic guidance.