Zelenskyy appoints new Ukrainian air force commander

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has formally appointed Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko as commander of the country’s Air Force, nearly a year after he began serving in the role in an acting capacity.

“Today, I appointed Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko as Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on Telegram on August 3, following a meeting with senior military and defence officials, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“What matters most is that Ukrainian combat aviation and air defence continue to develop in a comprehensive and effectively coordinated manner,” he added.

Zelenskyy also underscored the need for coordination between the Armed Forces, the General Staff, and the Defence Ministry, along with ongoing support from international partners and “dedicated, professional experts who want Ukraine to be strong and victorious.”

The presidential decree confirming Kryvonozhko’s appointment was later published on the official website of the Ukrainian Presidential Office.

Kryvonozhko has led the Air Force in an interim capacity since August 2024, after Zelenskyy dismissed then-commander Mykola Oleshchuk, who had held the post since 2021.

At the time, Zelenskyy said in a video address: “We must strengthen ourselves. And take care of people. Take care of personnel – take care of all our warriors.”

By Sabina Mammadli