Ukraine appoints ex-NATO general as chief foreign military adviser photo

A newly established Military Expert Council, ARES (Allied Reform and Expert Support), under the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, will be headed by former senior NATO commander Richard Shirreff, Ukraine’s General Staff told Ukrainian media.

The British general has also been appointed as Syrskyi’s chief foreign military adviser.

During a meeting between the two, Syrskyi briefed Shirreff on the operational situation at the front, including the use of new tactics and weapons systems. The discussions also covered priorities for the work of the ARES council.

According to the General Staff, the council includes high-ranking military experts from partner countries. Among them is Lieutenant General Pavel Macko, former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Slovakia’s armed forces. Syrskyi noted that interest among Western generals in joining the initiative is increasing.

“The ARES Council will become a permanent and effective channel of communication between the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the professional military community of partner countries. Its work will contribute to improving the quality of management decisions and accelerating the institutional development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the implementation of international experience,” Syrskyi said.

He added that Ukraine is prepared to share its own battlefield experience with partner nations.

“We have unique combat experience — the experience of the largest and most technologically advanced war of the 21st century,” he said.

Syrskyi also said that Shirreff has already begun practical work within the council and has identified specific areas of activity, including military-strategic analysis.

Shirreff previously served as NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 2011 to 2014, the alliance’s second-highest military post.

By Tamilla Hasanova