Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi has been appointed as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, succeeding Valery Zaluzhny.

The President of Ukraine announced the appointment on Thursday,  saying, "I have appointed Colonel-General Syrskyi as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

Prior to this appointment, Syrskyi held the position of Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, showcasing his experience and capability in military leadership.

The transition of leadership comes with Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia and the need for strategic direction in the face of regional challenges.

Zaluzhny, the outgoing Commander-in-Chief, assumed his position in 2021 before the escalation of tensions in the region.

With a distinguished career spanning decades, Syrskyi,68, has traversed through various ranks within the military hierarchy, from serving as a platoon commander to holding the position of deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Syrskyi's tenure as the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2019, coupled with his promotion to the rank of colonel-general in 2020, underscored his readiness to assume the pivotal role in Ukraine's defense apparatus, domestic media reported.