Brigadier General, strategist and diplomat: Shapovalov takes charge of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
19 June 21:35
On June 19, 2025, the President of Ukraine appointed a new commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to Presidential Decree No. 412, Brigadier General Gennadiy Shapovalov has been appointed, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Shapovalov is an officer with combat experience. In recent years, he has commanded the troops of the Operational Command “South”. He also performed tasks in Wiesbaden (Germany) in cooperation with NATO partners, coordinating important elements of international military cooperation.
It is worth noting that the new appointment of the President of Ukraine has already been commented on by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. On his official Facebook page, the head of the ministry noted that the Land Forces are the backbone of the state’s defense system and face key tasks at this stage of the war.
I am confident that the combination of practical combat experience, management decisions at the operational command level and understanding of the principles of interoperability with partners will be a strong foundation for the further development of the Land Forces. I congratulate General Shapovalov on his readiness to take on new responsibilities,” Umerov wrote.
It should be added that Shapovalov was appointed to the post of Commander of the Land Forces 16 days after Mykhailo Drapaty left the post.
Read also: Drapaty resigned after Russian strike on the Land Forces training ground
Gennadiy Shapovalov: the path from a brigadier to a diplomat
Gennadiy Shapovalov is one of the key Ukrainian military commanders of the new generation. Born in 1978 in the Kirovohrad region, he has made a brilliant career in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, combining combat experience with deep academic training.
His military career began with his studies at the Institute of Tank Troops of Kharkiv Polytechnic University, where he graduated with honors in 2000. Subsequently, Shapovalov earned a degree from the National Defense University of Ukraine and also majored in international relations at the National University of Ostroh Academy. Among other things, he attended the U.S. Army War College, which trains senior officers for command and staff positions.
He rose through the ranks from tank platoon commander to commander of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakiv Handziuk. His professionalism was recognized by the state: in March 2022, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
on April 16, 2024, Shapovalov was appointed commander of the South Operational Command, one of the most important areas in the structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine responsible for the defense of the southern front. In this position, he played an important role in stabilizing the situation in southern Ukraine in the context of a full-scale war with Russia.
In February 2025, Hennadii Shapovalov left the post of Commander of the Southern Command and was appointed to a new strategic position – Coordinator of International Military Assistance to Ukraine. In Wiesbaden (Germany), he was in charge of organizing the supply of weapons, training the Ukrainian military and coordinating interstate cooperation in the military sphere.
In addition to his military duties, Shapovalov also joined the Commission for the Coordination of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic Integration. This demonstrates his ability to work not only as a combat commander, but also as a strategist at the intersection of defense policy and international diplomacy.
Читайте нас у Telegram: головні новини коротко
