Chief of the General Staff (Ukraine)

Head of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Chief of the General Staff

Начальник Генерального штабу

Sleeve patch of the General Staff

Flag of the Chief of the General Staff

Incumbent
Lieutenant General Anatoliy Barhylevych

since 9 February 2024[1]

Ministry of Defence
Member of| the General Staff
Reports to| Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Appointer| President of Ukraine
Formation| April 1918 (historical)
23 December 1991 (current)
First holder| Colonel Oleksandr Slyvynsky

The Chief of the General Staff (Ukrainian: Начальник Генерального штабу, romanized: Nachalnyk Heneralnoho shtabu) is the head of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the military staff of the Forces. He is appointed by the President of Ukraine.[2]

Since a decree by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 28 March 2020, the posts of Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces have been separate.[3] Previously the Chief of the General Staff also served as the Commander-in-Chief when a civilian was the Minister of Defense[4] (before 1 January 2019 it was not a requirement that the Minister of Defense be a civilian).[5]

The current Chief of the General Staff is Anatoliy Barhylevych.

## Chiefs of General Staff

[edit]

### Armed Forces of Ukraine

[edit]

The office created upon the reorganization of the Soviet Kyiv Military District when its head, Colonel General Viktor Chechevatov,[6] after receiving the offer to be appointed to the post, refused to pledge his allegiance to the Ukrainian people. Originally it was known as Chief of the Headquarters and was designated as the First Deputy of the Minister of Defense. In 1996 it was changed to Chief of the General Staff. In 2002 as part of military reform, the post was separated from the civil service and lost its ministerial deputy functions. In 2005 Chief of the General Staff was reaffirmed as the primary commander of the Armed Forces in the country and was granted a parallel post of Commander-in-Chief. In 2020 another reorganization took place as part of ongoing military reform triggered by the Russian aggression and the post of Commander-in-Chief was split into a separate post.

No. | Portrait  | Chief of the General Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Zhyvytsia, GeorgiyLieutenant General
Georgiy Zhyvytsia [uk]
(1937–2015)
Acting| 23 December 1991| 4 June 1992| 164 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [7]

| Sobkov, VasylLieutenant General
Vasyl Sobkov
(1944–2020)| 4 June 1992| 25 September 1992| 113 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| .

| Bizhan, IvanLieutenant General
Ivan Bizhan
(born 1941)
Acting| 25 September 1992| 24 March 1993| 180 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| .

| Lopata, AnatoliyColonel General
Anatoliy Lopata [uk]
(born 1940)| 24 March 1993| 10 February 1996| 2 years, 323 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [7][8]

| Zatynaiko, OleksandrColonel General
Oleksandr Zatynaiko
(born 1949)| 12 March 1996| 30 September 1998| 2 years, 202 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [7]

| Shkidchenko, VolodymyrGeneral of Army of Ukraine
Volodymyr Shkidchenko
(born 1948)| 1 October 1998| 13 November 2001| 3 years, 43 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [7]

| Palchuk, MykolaLieutenant General
Mykola Palchuk [uk]
(1945–2016)
Acting| 13 November 2001| 27 November 2001| 14 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| .

| Shulyak, PetroColonel General
Petro Shulyak
(born 1945)| 27 November 2001| 28 July 2002| 223 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [7]
(3)|

| Zatynaiko, OleksandrColonel General
Oleksandr Zatynaiko
(born 1949)| 13 August 2002| 3 June 2004| 1 year, 295 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [7][9]

| Kirichenko, SerhiyGeneral of Army of Ukraine
Serhiy Kyrychenko
(born 1952)| 19 July 2004| 18 November 2009
[a]| 7 years, 122 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [7][10]

| Svyda, IvanColonel General
Ivan Svyda
(born 1950)| 18 November 2009| 31 May 2010
[b]| 194 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [10][11]

| Pedchenko, HryhoriyColonel General
Hryhoriy Pedchenko
(born 1955)| 31 May 2010| 18 February 2012| 1 year, 263 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [12][13][14]

| Zamana, VolodymyrLieutenant General
Volodymyr Zamana
(born 1959)| 18 February 2012| 19 February 2014| 2 years, 1 day|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [13][14]
10|

| Ilyin, YuriyAdmiral
Yuriy Ilyin
(born 1962)| 19 February 2014| 28 February 2014| 9 days|  Ukrainian Navy| [15][16]
11|

| Kutsyn, MykhailoLieutenant General
Mykhailo Kutsyn
(born 1957)| 28 February 2014| 3 July 2014| 125 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [17]
12|

| Muzhenko, ViktorGeneral of the Army of Ukraine
Viktor Muzhenko
(born 1961)| 3 July 2014| 21 May 2019| 4 years, 322 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [2][18]
13|

| Khomchak, RuslanLieutenant General
Ruslan Khomchak
(born 1967)| 21 May 2019| 28 March 2020| 312 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [18][3]
14|

| Korniychuk, SerhiyLieutenant General
Serhiy Korniychuk
(born 1965)| 28 March 2020| 28 July 2021| 1 year, 122 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [3]
15|

| Shaptala, SerhiyLieutenant General
Serhiy Shaptala
(born 1973)| 28 July 2021| 9 February 2024| 2 years, 196 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [19]
16|

| Barhylevych, AnatoliyLieutenant General
Anatoliy Barhylevych
(born 1969)| 9 February 2024| Incumbent| 1 year, 24 days|  Ukrainian Ground Forces| [20]

## Historical offices

[edit]

### Ukrainian People's Republic

[edit]

Ukrainian General Staff
No. | Portrait  | Chief of the Ukrainian General Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office

|
|
|
|
|

| Bobrovsky, BorysMajor General
Borys Bobrovsky [uk]
(1868–1933)| November 1917| March 1918| 4 months

| Slyvynsky, OleksandrColonel
Oleksandr Slyvynsky [uk]
(1886–1956)| 8 February 1918| 12 February 1918| 4 days

| Osetsky, OleksandrEnsign general
Oleksander Osetsky
(1873–1937)| 12 February 1918| August 1919| 4 months

Headquarters of the UPR
No. | Portrait  | Chief of the Headquarters of the UPR | Took office | Left office | Time in office

|
|
|
|
|

| Tyutyunnyk, VasylEnsign general
Vasyl Tyutyunnyk [uk]
(1890–1919)| 1919| 8 September 1919| 8 days

| Sinclair, VolodymyrColonel
Volodymyr Sinclair
(1887–1919)| 8 September 1919| 26 September 1919| 18 days

General Staff of UPR
No. | Portrait  | Chief of the General Staff of UPR | Took office | Left office | Time in office

|
|
|
|
|

| Sinclair, VolodymyrColonel
Volodymyr Sinclair
(1887–1919)| 28 October 1918| 19 August 1921| 2 years, 295 days

| Petriv, VsevolodColonel
Vsevolod Petriv
(1883–1948)| 19 August 1921| June 1922| 8 days

### West Ukrainian National Republic

[edit]

Ukrainian Galician Army
| No. | Portrait  | Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Galician Army | Took office | Left office | Time in office

|
|
|
|
|

| Vitovsky, DmytroColonel
Dmytro Vitovsky
(1887–1919)| 28 October 1918| 5 November 1918| 8 days

| Kossak, HryhoriyColonel
Hryhoriy Kossak [uk]
(1882–1939)| 5 November 1918| 9 November 1918| 4 days

| Stefaniv, HnatColonel
Hnat Stefaniv
(1895–1949)| 9 November 1918| 10 December 1918| 31 days

| Omelianovych-Pavlenko, MykhailoGeneral
Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko
(1878–1952)| 10 December 1918| 9 June 1919| 181 days

| Hrekov, OleksanderGeneral
Oleksandr Hrekov
(1875–1958)
[21]| 9 June 1919| 5 July 1919| 26 days

| Tarnavsky, MyronGeneral
Myron Tarnavsky
(1869–1938)| 5 July 1919| 7 November 1919| 125 days

| Mykyta, OsypGeneral
Osyp Mykyta [uk]
(1871–1920)| 7 November 1919| 12 February 1920| 97 days

General Bulawa

General Bulawa was a name of the General Staff of Ukraine in 1917–1920.[22]

| No. | Portrait  | Chief of the General Bulawa | Took office | Left office | Time in office

|
|
|
|
|

| Marynovych, MykolaColonel
Mykola Marynovych [uk]
(1861–1944)| 1 November 1918| 5 November 1918| 4 days

| Goruk, SemenMajor
Semen Goruk
(1873–1920)| 6 November 1918| 10 December 1918| 35 days

| Myshkovskyi, YevhenEnsign general
Yevhen Myshkovskyi [uk]
(1882–1920)| 10 December 1918| 7 February 1919| 58 days

| Kurmanovych, ViktorGeneral
Viktor Kurmanovych
(1876–1945)| 8 February 1919| 6 June 1919| 118 days

| Stipsitz-Tarnawa, KarlColonel
Karl Stipsitz-Tarnawa [uk]
(1883–1954)| 8 June 1919| 5 July 1919| 27 days

| Shamanek, AlfredColonel
Alfred Shamanek [uk]
(1883–1920)| 5 July 1919| 7 November 1919| 125 days

| Ziritz, GustavMajor general
Gustav Ziritz [uk]
(1872–1920)| 8 November 1919| 10 February 1920| 94 days

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Tendered resignation in early October.
2. ^ Submitted a letter of resignation on 29 May 2010.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Dmytro Basmat (9 February 2024). "Zelensky announces new chief of general staff". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
2. ^ a b Poroshenko appointed the new chief of General Staff. Ukrayinska Pravda. July 3, 2014
3. ^ a b c Zelensky appoints Khomchak Chief Commander of Armed Forces, Korniychuk Chief of General Staff, Interfax-Ukraine (28 March 2020)
4. ^ "Про Положення про Генеральний штаб Збройних Сил України" [About the Regulations on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
5. ^ "Poltorak quits military service, continues to lead Defense ministry as civilian – Poroshenko". UNIAN. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
6. ^ Viktor Chechevatov Archived 2007-03-20 at the Wayback Machine (in English)
7. ^ a b c d e f g "Ministry of Defense' Army of Ukraine magazine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
8. ^ Новини Управління Прес-служби МО
9. ^ "Zatynaiko appointed head of Ukraine's General Staff," Interfax, 13 August 2002
10. ^ a b ru:Педченко, Григорий Николаевич, Kyiv Post (November 14, 2009)
11. ^ Chief of General Staff Svyda resigns, Kyiv Post (May 29, 2010)
12. ^ By the Presidential decree №656/2010
13. ^ a b Yanukovych reshuffles leadership of defense ministry, army, Kyiv Post (18 February 2012)
14. ^ a b President appoints new Chief of General Staff of Ukraine Archived January 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, President.gov.ua (18 February 2012)
15. ^ "Янукович сменил главнокомандующего Вооруженных сил". 19 February 2014.
16. ^ Ilyin dismissed as head of Ukraine's General Staff, commander-in-chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces, Interfax-Ukraine (28 February 2014)
17. ^ Mykhailo Kutsyn appointed chief of general staff - commander-in-chief of Ukrainian army, Interfax-Ukraine (28 February 2014)
18. ^ a b "President Zelensky appoints new chief of Ukrainian army's general staff". UNIAN. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
19. ^ "Regarding the change of the Chief of the General Staff of the AFU, the Commander of the Air Assault Troops of the AFU and the Commander of the JFO".
20. ^ "Ucraina: Zelensky sostituisce anche il capo di stato maggiore" [Ukraine: Zelensky also replaces chief of staff]. rainews.it (in Italian). Rai News 24. 2024-02-10. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
21. ^ Army of the Ukrainian National Republic
22. ^ General Bulawa at the Handbook on history of Ukraine

* v
* t
* e

Chiefs of the General Staff of Ukraine

Ukrainian People's Republic
(1918–1921)|

* Oleksander Slyvynsky
* Oleksander Hrekov
* Oleksander Osetsky
* Mykola Yunakiv
* Volodymyr Sinclair
* Symon Petlyura
* Vsevolod Petriv
* Vasyl Tyutyunyk
* Volodymyr Salsky

Ukraine
(since 1991)|

* Heorhiy Zhyvytsia*
* Vasyl Sobkov
* Ivan Bizhan*
* Anatoliy Lopata
* Oleksandr Zatynaiko
* Volodymyr Shkidchenko
* Mykola Palchuk*
* Petro Shulyak
* Oleksandr Zatynaiko
* Serhiy Kyrychenko
* Ivan Svyda
* Hryhoriy Pedchenko
* Volodymyr Zamana
* Yuriy Ilyin
* Mykhailo Kutsyn
* Viktor Muzhenko
* Ruslan Khomchak
* Serhiy Korniychuk
* Serhiy Shaptala

*Acting Chief

* v
* t
* e

Armed Forces of Ukraine

* Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
* National Security and Defence Council
* Ministry of Defence
* General Staff
* Ground Forces
* Air Force
* Marine Corps
* Navy
* Air Assault Forces
* Special Operations Forces
* Unmanned Systems Forces

Structure|

| Ground Forces|

* Armoured Forces
* Mechanized Infantry
* Rocket Forces and Field Artillery
* Air Defense Missile Artillery
* Army Aviation
* Corps of Engineers of Ukraine

|

Air Force|

* Combat Aviation
* Non-combat Aviation
* Transportation
* Anti Air Defense Missile Artillery Forces
* Radar Technology Forces
* Unmanned Systems Forces

Marine Corps|

* Coastal Defense Missile Artillery
* Marine Corps bases

Navy|

* Naval Aviation
* River Flotilla
* Naval bases

Air Assault Forces|

* Air landing forces
* Airmobile forces

Other/support|

* Military Police
* Main Directorate of Intelligence
* Territorial Defense Forces
* International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine
* State Transport Special Service
* Arms Supply
* Logistical Rear Support
* Sports
* Special Operations Forces
* Unmanned Systems Forces
* Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support

Paramilitary Reserves|

* National Guard
* State Border Guard
* Sea Guard

Former formations|

* State Emergency Service
* Civil Defense Troops
* Air Defense (1992–2004)
* Internal Troops (1991–2014)
* Strategic aviation

Insignia|

* Ukrainian Armed Forces branch insignia
* Military ranks
* Awards and decorations

* Military formations
* List of guards units
* Defence companies

*[No.]: Number
*[Ref.]: Reference(s)
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