Earlier, the Ukrainian government dismissed Pavlyuk from his position as the country’s First Deputy Minister of Defense due to his «transition to another job.» Pavlyuk commanded Ukraine’s defense in the east after the start of the Russian invasion, reports RBK. Since May 2022, he has been the deputy commander of the Ground Forces, Alexander Syrsky, and since February 2023, he held the position of First Deputy Minister of Defense.
In other decrees issued on February 11, Zelensky appointed Yuriy Sodya as the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, replacing Sergey Naev, Igor Skybyuk as the commander of the Airborne Assault Forces, replacing Maksim Mirgorodsky, and Igor Plakhuta as the commander of the Territorial Defense Forces.
Change of leadership in the Ukrainian Armed Forces by Zelensky
The reshuffling of the Ukrainian military leadership began on February 8, when Zelensky officially announced the resignation of Valeriy Zaluzhny from the position of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the appointment of former Ground Forces Commander Alexander Syrsky to his position.
The President also replaced the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and updated the composition of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff and the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. In both bodies, Valeriy Zaluzhny was replaced by Alexander Syrsky. The day before, Zelensky also announced the deputies of Syrsky and the new deputies of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.