Ukrainian President Zelensky dismisses Chief of General Staff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed former Chief of General Staff Viktor Muzhenko from the Armed Forces of Ukraine entirely. The general’s dismissal was motivated by “organizational activities”.
“Muzhenko, Viktor Mykolayovych, Army General of Ukraine, is dismissed from reserve military service with the right to wear military uniform in connection with the carrying out of organizational activities,” reads presidential decree No. 645/2019 from September 2.
On May 21, Zelensky removed Muzhenko from his position as Chief of General Staff and gave the position to Ruslan Homchak, who had served as the First Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces since 2016.
Former President Petro Poroshenko appointed Muzhenko chief of general staff and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in July 2014. Muzhenko was given the rank of Army General of Ukraine in 2015.