New Chief Appointed To Head Ukraine's General Staff In Reshuffle Of Military Leaders

KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed Major General Anatoliy Barhilevych as Ukraine's new chief of the General Staff on February 9, replacing Lieutenant General Serhiy Shaptala in another major personnel change after naming Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskiy commander in chief.

Zelenskiy announced the appointment in his nightly video address, saying he took the action at Syrskiy's recommendation. Zelenskiy described Barhilevych as "an experienced individual who understands the tasks of this war and Ukrainian objectives."

He added that Syrskiy has already identified candidacies for deputy positions. Zelenskiy did not name them but said all have combat experience, are professional and possess "a clear knowledge of the front and the real needs of Ukrainian soldiers."

In his first remarks since being appointed to command Ukraine's armed forces, Syrskiy said the country must change and improve its methods of warfare if it is to defeat invading Russian forces.

Syrskiy, who on February 8 was named by Zelenskiy to take over the lead of the armed forces from General Valeriy Zaluzhniy, said in a post on Telegram that "a clear and detailed planning of the actions of all military administration bodies" was needed while also addressing the need for modern weapons from Ukraine's Western partners.

"Only changes and constant improvement of the means and methods of warfare will make it possible to achieve success on this path," he wrote in the post on February 9, adding that new technical solutions, including drone systems and adding means of radio-electronic warfare are needed.

Earlier in the day, Zelenskiy awarded Zaluzhniy the title of Hero of Ukraine at a ceremony in Kyiv. Syrskiy's successful leadership in defending the Ukrainian capital earned him the same title from Zelenskiy in September 2023.

The change in the leadership of the armed forces comes at a crucial time for Ukraine, which has failed to recapture significant territory from Russia since late 2022 and now faces a potential disruption in military aid supply from the United States, its biggest backer, as Republican lawmakers block a $60 billion aid package over demands for deep changes in U.S. border policy.

With Russian forces on the offensive across the front line and making gradual inroads into the eastern town of Avdiyivka, which Moscow has been trying to capture for several months, Zelenskiy said the military needed a "reset."

The General Staff said in its evening summary that Ukrainian aircraft struck five areas of concentration of Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment. It also said that the armed forces fought 91 combat clashes during the day.

The summary said Ukrainian troops repelled 10 attacks near Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, where the enemy tried unsuccessfully to break through Ukrainian defenses.

The Russian military carried out air strikes in the areas near several settlements in the region, and about 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, the General Staff said.

Ukrainian troops also fought battles near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, where they repelled 18 attacks, preventing the Russians from improving their tactical position. About 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, according to the summary.

Drones attacked civilian infrastructure late on February 9 in and near Kharkiv, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said on Telegram. Ukrainian media quoted Viktor Tereshchenko, the top military official in the area, as saying that the drones damaged a hospital and a restaurant.

In recent weeks, the eastern Ukrainian city has been targeted by Russian attacks even more frequently than usual.