Luniov to be appointed SOF Commander while Kryvonos to become his first deputy in near future, - Butusov

The Certification Commission of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the General Staff has selected two candidates, who should be appointed to the positions of Commander and First Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) by the authorities.

Censor.NET Chief Editor Yurii Butusov announced on Facebook.

"According to the sources of Censor.NET close to the Defense Ministry, the new Special Operations Forces Command will be announced soon. The Certification Commission of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff has selected two candidates, who should be appointed to the positions by the authorities. Major General Ihor Luniov, who has previously occupied position of the First Deputy Commander of the airborne troops, to be appointed SOF Commander under the decision of the Minister of Defense," he wrote.

"Acting Head of the Special Operations Directorate of the General Staff Serhii Kryvonos, who was supported by an unprecedented public campaign that had no comparable counterparts in the Ukrainian army, has been appointed the First Deputy Commander of Special Operations Forces (SOF). In fact, Chief of General Staff Viktor Muzhenko intended to completely oust Kryvonos from the Special Operations Forces project, but the public outcry, the statements of the military and politicians forced the president to interfere in the situation and Kryvonos remained. The question now is whether they will succeed in working together. It will be not the easiest thing in the world," Butusov wrote.