President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree appointing Yuriy Pogrebny as the Commander of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This personnel decision was the result of discussions on strategic issues with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapata. Simultaneously, by another decree of the head of state, the previous commander, Volodymyr Karpenko, was dismissed from his post.
Career and combat path of Yuriy Pogrebny
The new commander has extensive military experience, covering both peacetime and active combat operations. Pogrebny graduated from the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Sumy Military Institute of Rocket Forces and Artillery in 2007. He began his service in the 55th Separate Artillery Brigade, where he rose from a platoon commander to the deputy commander of an artillery battery.
In 2014, at the beginning of the full-scale conflict in eastern Ukraine, Pogrebny was part of the same 55th Brigade. He took direct part in the liberation of key settlements — Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Lyman. This combat experience became the foundation for his subsequent professional growth.
Management of the rear and repair and recovery forces
In 2020, Pogrebny was tasked with heading the 532nd Separate Repair and Recovery Regiment. Under his leadership, the unit provided technical support and equipment repair on the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia directions. This appointment allowed him to gain critically important experience in organizing material and technical support for troops under active combat conditions.
In 2024, he received operational-strategic education at the National University of Defense of Ukraine. After completing his studies, he was appointed Chief of Armament of the "East" Operational Command, where he was responsible for supplying one of the most active groupings on the front. Later, he began performing the duties of Commander of the Logistics Forces, which became a logical transition to his official appointment in August 2026.
Significance of the appointment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The Logistics Forces play a key role in modern warfare. They are responsible for supplying troops with weapons, ammunition, equipment, fuel, and food, as well as for the repair of military equipment. The appointment of Pogrebny, who has experience in both artillery and repair and supply, indicates the command's desire to optimize supply chains and improve the efficiency of rear support.
The decision to change the command was made after consultations with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapata, which underscores the strategic importance of this position in the current phase of the conflict.
