Zelensky appointed a new commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: what is known about Gennady Shapovalov
Фото: ОК Південь
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the appointment of a new commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He is Brigadier General Gennady Shapovalov, an officer with combat experience and international education.
This is stated in the text of Decree No. 412/2025.
It is noted that Shapovalov replaced General Mikhail Drapaty, who resigned after the tragedy at the training ground.
The newly appointed commander has significant experience in both combat operations and international cooperation. In February 2025, he left the post of head of the operational command “South”, and previously coordinated military assistance to Ukraine from the Allies in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Who is Gennady Shapovalov?
Gennady Shapovalov was born in 1978 in the Kirovohrad region. In 2000, he graduated with honors from the Institute of Tank Troops in Kharkiv, and in 2012, from the Command and Staff Institute at the National University of Defense of Ukraine.
He also has a diploma from the Ostroh Academy with a degree in International Relations and completed his studies at the US Army War College, which trains commanders of the highest level.
In 2019–2021, he commanded the 59th Yakov Handziuk Motorized Infantry Brigade.
In 2022, he received the rank of brigadier general and headed the Main Directorate of Military Cooperation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a member of the Commission for Coordination of Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
It is worth adding that Shapovalov represented Ukraine in the NSATU mission in Wiesbaden, Germany. Since December 2024, NATO has taken over the coordination of Western military assistance to Ukraine instead of the United States. For this purpose, in July, the NSATU mission was created – NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine. It is responsible for training and assisting Ukraine in the security sector.
In 2024, he was appointed commander of the South Regional Command.
By the way, on Tuesday, June 17, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported the appointment of Ruslan Kravchenko as Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
The day before, President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed a new head of Ukraine’s mission to NATO.
It is worth adding that on June 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a key military meeting, which resulted in important personnel decisions in the leadership of the Armed Forces . The rotations are designed to strengthen combat management, system modernization, and scale the successful experience of the best units throughout the army.
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