Key facts
- Sviatoslav Zaiets has been appointed the new commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces.
- The appointment was made by President Volodymyr Zelensky via a decree signed on September 2.
- Zaiets replaces Hennadii Shapovalov, who had served in the role since June 19, 2025.
- Zaiets is a veteran who served in Crimea in 2014 and is noted for his understanding of modern warfare technologies.
- Shapovalov previously led Ukraine’s Operational Command South and served in NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Sviatoslav Zaiets as the new commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, replacing Hennadii Shapovalov. The decree was signed on September 2. Zaiets, who previously commanded the 20th Army Corps, was an active service member in Crimea in 2014 when Russia occupied the peninsula. He refused to accept Russian conditions and withdrew his unit to mainland Ukraine. His peers describe him as a modern officer with a strong understanding of digitalization and robotization in warfare.
Hennadii Shapovalov had served as commander since June 19, 2025. Prior to that, he led Ukraine’s Operational Command South and represented Ukraine in NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission in Germany. Shapovalov had outlined priorities including force generation, training, and the integration of modern technologies like drones and secure communications.
Shapovalov's appointment followed the resignation of Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi in June 2025, after a Russian missile strike killed 12 service members and wounded over 60 at a military training ground. Drapatyi stated his decision was driven by personal responsibility for the incident. He was subsequently appointed commander of Ukraine’s Joint Forces.