During an evening speech on February 10, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced new changes in the military leadership of Ukraine, naming two new deputies to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and three new deputies to the Chief of the General Staff, General Anatoliy Bargilevich, Ukrainian media reported.

It will be recalled that on February 8, Zelensky appointed Syrsky to replace General Valery Zaluzhnyi. Then on February 9, he appointed Bargilevich to replace Lieutenant General Serhiy Shaptala as the head of the General Staff. Both Zaluzhny and Shaptala led the Ukrainian military even before the full-scale invasion.

The commander of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, has been appointed as one of Syrskyi’s deputies. According to Zelenskyi, Sukharevskyi will focus on unmanned systems and the development of the military use of drones.

Syrskyi’s second deputy is Colonel Andrii Lebedenko, who, according to Zelenskyi, will focus on “innovations, especially the technological component of military and combat systems.”

Zelenskyi also named the three deputies of Bargilevich – Volodymyr Horbatyuk, Oleksiy Shevchenko and Mykhailo Drapatoy.

Horbatyuk’s job is to ensure that all staffs “100 percent” understand what is happening at the front,” Zelenskyy said. Shevchenko will focus on logistical support, while Drapaty “is responsible for the quality training of our army.”

“Now, people who are well-known in the army and who themselves know well what the army needs are taking up new duties,” Zelenskyy said, noting the usefulness of their combat experience.

“All the real experience of our combat commanders, combat brigades and units, which have built a quality system of training soldiers, must be implemented for the success of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyi said.

Zaluzhnyi’s replacement took place after rumors of disagreements between Zelenskyi and the former head of the Armed Forces appeared in the media in November.