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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced upcoming changes to the leadership of several regional military administrations. The reshuffles will affect five oblasts: Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Ternopil, and Chernivtsi.
The president shared the update via his official Telegram channel, noting that broader кадрові changes within state leadership are ongoing. According to Zelenskyy, discussions are currently underway regarding the replacement of the heads of regional military administrations in these five regions.
“Vinnytsia Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk region, Poltava region, Ternopil region, and Chernivtsi Oblast — the shortlist of candidates has been determined. Decisions will be made tomorrow, and I expect the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to approve the appointments in the near future. The new regional heads should begin their work next week,” Zelenskyy stated.
It is worth noting that a series of high-level personnel changes have already taken place in Ukraine in early January. In particular, one month after Andriy Yermak’s dismissal from the Presidential Office, Zelenskyy appointed a new head of the Office of the President — former Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov.
Budanov was replaced as head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate by his first deputy and current head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Oleh Ivashchenko. There is currently no confirmed information regarding who will replace Ivashchenko as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, though Security and Defense Ombudsman Oleksandr Kononenko is considered a potential candidate.
Another anticipated personnel change involves the Head of the State Border Guard Service, Serhii Deineko, who is expected to take up a new position. His potential successor has not yet been announced.
Additionally, Ukraine has changed its Minister of Defense: Mykhailo Fedorov, currently First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, is set to replace Denys Shmyhal. Shmyhal, in turn, has been offered the post of Minister of Energy, which has remained vacant since a corruption scandal in November.
There are also unconfirmed reports suggesting that Security Service of Ukraine head Vasyl Maliuk could be dismissed and appointed Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, replacing Rustem Umerov. However, these plans reportedly lack support among politicians, the military, and the general public.
