Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has adopted a decision to replace Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol, Commander of Joint Forces of Armed Forces of Ukraine, with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov.
Source: address by Zelenskyy
Quote: „We have discussed [at a meeting – ed.] staffing issues in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I adopted the decision to replace Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol, Commander of Joint Forces of Armed Forces of Ukraine, with Brigadier General Andrii Hnatov.“
Details: Zelenskyy did not specify the reasons for this dismissal in his address, but on 24 June it was revealed that Bohdan Krotevych, Chief of Staff of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard, had filed a statement with the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) calling for an investigation into Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol, the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, due to big losses among the personnel.
For reference: Andrii Hnatov is a former head of staff and deputy commander of Operational Command Pivden (South). In the spring of 2023 he was in charge of the defence of the city of Bakhmut. Before serving in Operational Command Pivden (South) he led the 36th Marine Brigade formed out of units previously stationed in Crimea. Hnatov himself served in Crimea before it was occupied by Russia.
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