Zelenskyy: Ihor Skybyuk to Become Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Major General Ihor Skibyuk will become the new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this, noting that decrees regarding changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces are being prepared.
According to Zelenskyy, the decision to appoint Skibyuk was made in consultation with Mykhailo Drapatiy and Yevhen Khmara. The president described Skibyuk as an experienced military officer who, alongside the new Commander-in-Chief, has defended Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also stated that, together with Drapati and Khmara, they had determined how Oleksandr Syrskyi and Andriy Gnativ would continue to serve in the defense of the state. The president emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among all components of the army.
Skibuk previously served as commander of the Airborne Assault Forces. In June 2025, he was appointed deputy chief of the General Staff. As reported by “Ukrainska Pravda,” he had served in the 80th Galician Brigade of the Airborne Assault Forces since 1998.
Under Skibuk’s command, the brigade attempted to hold back Russian forces in the Kherson region during a full-scale offensive. It later participated in a successful offensive in the Kharkiv region in the fall of 2022. Official reports noted that Izyum was liberated thanks to Skibuk’s decisive and timely actions. He was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine for the Kharkiv offensive.
