President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced on Friday evening during an address to his compatriots that he had replaced the commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and was “waiting” for new results from the new leadership.

“We made a change in the command structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – we appointed Colonel Serhiy Lupanchuk as the new commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He is an experienced combat officer, a proper commander and someone who can add strength to our special operations. We look forward to new results,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in an address to his compatriots on Friday evening, News.ro reports.

He specified that General Viktor Gorenko, who until now commanded the Special Operations Forces, will continue to perform special duties as part of the Intelligence Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which is headed by General Kyrylo Budanov.

The replacement of the commander of special operations took place against the background of a series of changes in the Ministry of Defense after the appointment in September of a new minister in the person of Rustem Umerov, who replaced Oleksiy Reznikov, the institution he headed (not himself personally), involved in a series of corruption scandals.

Last month, Volodymyr Zelensky also replaced the commander of the Armed Forces of the Territorial Defense of Ukraine.

The reasons for the change in military command were not given, but they took place after Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive this summer.

The chief of the General Staff, General Valery Zaluzhny, warned this week in an article published in The Economist that the war between Ukraine and Russia is headed for a new phase of static fighting and attrition, a phase that could allow Moscow to regain military power. . He said his military needed key new military capabilities and technological innovations to emerge from a new phase of the war, now in its 21st month.

With Russian troops on the offensive in parts of the country’s east, Kyiv fears that Moscow plans to launch a new campaign of airstrikes to damage its power grid, as it did last winter, plunging millions of people into darkness and cold.

On the other hand, President Zelenskyi told Ukrainians on Friday evening that this fall Kyiv has “good, very important results” in destroying Russian air defense systems and enemy fighter jets. “We will continue this work in the future – and I thank everyone who helps us in this,” Zelensky said before announcing the replacement of General Gorenko as the head of special operations.

During the five months of the counteroffensive, Ukraine conducted several spectacular operations in Crimea, damaging Russian ships with the help of amphibious drones, destroying anti-aircraft systems and even resorting to short-term landings on the shores of the peninsula annexed by Russia.

“Every 500 meters, every kilometer that the guys move is a new opportunity for Ukraine, including our missiles,” said the President of Ukraine.

With Ukraine seemingly struggling to find reserve forces and talk of “fatigue” from Western support for Kyiv, and domestic political impasse in Washington preventing a vote on a new aid package, Zelenskyy tried to mobilize the population and boost the country’s morale, recalling moments in the beginning of the Russian invasion, when no one paid any attention to the Ukrainian resistance.

“Every time I see our soldiers – those who are on the front line, those who are preparing to return to the front line, those who deserve state awards – every time I see them, I see their readiness not only to defend Ukraine, but and also win for the sake of Ukraine. To win this war. We must do our part. This is our need. I remember well who and how people felt on February 24 and in the first days of a large-scale war. I remember what was said and who said it. I remember who believed, and who was wrong, not believing in Ukraine. We must be confident in Ukraine now, as we were then. Russia wanted Kyiv, but was forced to flee. He wanted Kharkiv and said that it is a Russian city, but our Kharkiv is and will always be free. So is Kherson. Odesa is the same. And we will not leave our people in the occupied territory – I want them to hear this now. We are talking about millions of lives,” Zelenskyi said.

“All partners know what is needed for the front line, for our sky, for our cities and for our movement. Thank you to everyone in the world who helps us! I thank everyone who fights and works for Ukraine!” Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.

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