Zelenskyy Reshuffles Top Military Command, Appoints Fedorov and Shmyhal

Overhaul of Ukraine's Supreme Military Command

According to Главком: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a decree to reconfigure the membership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff. The move, enacted by Decree No. 73/2026 and published on the President's official website, removes former Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) head Vasyl Malyuk and appoints two new members. These high-level changes come as Ukraine continues to adapt its strategic leadership to the demands of the ongoing war.

Vasyl Malyuk, who submitted his resignation on January 5 and was formally dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada on January 13, has been removed from the body. The new appointees to the Staff are:

• Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov
• First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal

President Zelenskyy nominated Fedorov for the role of Defense Minister, a proposal that received unanimous support from the parliamentary National Security Committee. Denys Shmyhal, the former head of the Defense Ministry, has now taken on the position of Energy Minister.

Significance of the Reshuffle

This restructuring of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff signals an ongoing effort to refine the management of Ukraine's military and security apparatus during a period of sustained conflict. The inclusion of key figures like Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is expected to influence the nation's defense and security strategy. The appointments reflect the leadership's intent to enhance operational effectiveness and responsiveness to evolving threats on multiple fronts.