Ukrainian president appoints new Joint Forces commander

He stated this at a meeting with servicemen as part of his working trip to Donetsk region on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"At the proposal of Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak and Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Viktor Muzhenko, the decision has been made to reshuffle the leadership of the Joint Forces Operation. Therefore, I have decided to support the proposal of the Defense Ministry and appoint Lieutenant-General Oleksandr Vladyslavovych Syrsky as commander of the Joint Forces," Poroshenko said.

According to him, Syrsky successfully served at posts from platoon commander to deputy chief of the General Staff and took an active part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation.

The head of state stressed that under difficult conditions Syrsky had shown personal courage and effective actions to organize defense and repulse the offensive of Russian troops.

"I firmly believe that his level of training will help successfully accomplish the tasks assigned to him," Poroshenko said.

At the same time, the president thanked Serhiy Nayev for his service at the post of Joint Forces commander.

On March 16, 2018, Nayev was appointed commander of the Joint Operational Headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On April 30, 2018, Poroshenko signed an order "On the beginning of the Joint Forces Operation to ensure national security and defense, repel and deter the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."

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