Overview

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a decree on June 19, 2025 appointing Brigadier General Hennadiy Shapovalov as commander of Ukraine’s land forces
• Shapovalov previously served as a liaison officer at a NATO coordination center in Germany and commanded units within Ukraine’s Operational Command South
• The leadership change follows the resignation of Mykhailo Drapatyi, who stepped down after a Russian strike on a military training site and was reassigned to head Ukraine’s joint forces command
• Zelenskyy cited Shapovalov’s Western coordination skills as vital for implementing strategic reforms to address ammunition and manpower shortages
• This appointment marks the latest in a series of military leadership reshuffles aimed at strengthening NATO integration and combat effectiveness against Russian forces