Zelensky appointed new Commander-in-Chief of the AFU

Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyy has become the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

This was announced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video message.

I have appointed Colonel-General Syrskyy as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, - the President said.

Syrskyy, according to the President, is the most experienced Ukrainian commander. He has successful experience in defence and offensive operations, in particular, Syrskyy conducted the Kiev Defence Operation and the Kharkiv Liberation Operation.

Also, starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zelensky emphasised that everyone must have the same vision of the war: the military, the General Staff and the Stavka.

Everyone whose experience will now serve to renew the Armed Forces is being carefully selected. I have had dozens of conversations with commanders at various levels. In particular, today I spoke with Brigadier Generals Andrei Gnatov, Mikhail Drapaty, Igor Skibyuk and Colonels Pavel Palisa and Vadim Sukharevsky," Zelensky said.

They are being considered for senior positions in the army. The exact composition of the rebooted team of the AFU will be presented by Oleksandr Syrskyy the other day.

Also Zelensky called the changes in the Armed Forces, which are expected in the near future:

1. A realistic, detailed action plan of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2024 should appear on the table. Taking into account the real situation on the battlefield now and the prospects.

2. Every combat brigade on the first line should receive effective Western weapons - there should be a fair redistribution of such weapons in favour of the first front line.

3. Logistical problems must be solved. Avdeevka should not wait for the generals to figure out where they have drones stuck in their warehouses.

4. Every general should know the front. If a general does not know the front, he is not serving Ukraine.

5. The excessive and unjustified number of headquarters must be corrected.

6. It is necessary to build an effective rotation system in the army. The experience of individual combat brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, where such a system exists, can be taken as a basis. Rotations are a must.

7. There must be an obvious improvement in the quality of training of soldiers - only trained soldiers of the first line.

8. A new kind of force is being created in the structure of the Armed Forces - the Unmanned Systems Force. The first commander must be appointed.