The 42-year-old General Serhii Sobko, originally from Vinnytsia, takes over the second-highest post in the Ukrainian military. He will report to the new Commander-in-Chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, whom President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed on July 21 as part of a reshuffle of the security leadership. The Armed Forces website confirmed the appointment on Wednesday afternoon, and most Ukrainian media reported it the same day.
Sobko is known as an opponent of Soviet tactics and advocates for modern equipment and the promotion of younger officers with combat experience. Before his new role, he commanded the 11th Army Corps, which is currently conducting defense operations in the east near Donetsk and Siversk. According to military sources, he was appointed there in April after a section of the front collapsed and the previous commander was dismissed due to territorial losses.
Sobko became famous in 2014 when, as a battalion commander of the 30th Brigade, he led units out of a Russian encirclement and was awarded the title “Hero of Ukraine” for his actions. During the defense of Kyiv in 2022, as commander of territorial defense, he organized the arming of tens of thousands of volunteers, which helped repel the Russian attack on the capital. His military training includes the Infantry Officer Course at Fort Benning, USA, as well as cooperation with NATO forces.
Defense Minister Jewhen Hmara said he has already met with Drapatyi and Sobko to discuss further cooperation. On Thursday, the leadership group held talks with a British military delegation on air defense, aerospace projects, and the joint development of drones. Ukrainian lawmaker Mariana Bezuhla, a critic of old commanders, praised Sobko as someone who “constantly fought for standards in the army” and is not afraid to voice his opinion publicly.
Source: www.kyivpost.com
