Commander of the Land Forces

Sviatoslav Zaiets (born in 1988) has served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the age of 18. He joined the Ukrainian Land Forces from the Air Assault Forces, having taken command of the 20th Army Corps in April 2026.

Sviatoslav Zaiets began his combat career in the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade as commander of a reconnaissance company — a unit that has since become legendary. During the invasion of Crimea by Russian forces in 2014, the unit remained faithful to its oath and military honor.

For a month, around one hundred Ukrainian servicemen under the command of Sviatoslav Zaiets remained under Russian siege, facing constant psychological pressure and threats to their lives. They neither surrendered nor defected to the enemy and continued to withstand the pressure with dignity and professionalism. Eventually, the commander led his unit back to mainland Ukraine together with its weapons and equipment.

Sviatoslav Zaiets continued defending Ukraine in the Donetsk region as part of the Air Assault Forces, including in the battles for Sloviansk and Debaltseve. He also served in the 81st Separate Airmobile Slobozhanska Brigade, although, as he noted in one interview, the 25th Brigade remains the foundation of his military career.

Sviatoslav Zaiets's military career reflects the gradual development of his experience in commanding troops. At different stages of his service, he held command positions at various levels, including battalion commander, chief of staff and deputy commander of the 8th Corps of the Air Assault Forces, and commander of the 20th Army Corps.

As a corps commander, Sviatoslav Zaiets emphasized the use of modern battlefield command-and-control systems, digital technologies, and the development of unmanned systems.

On 6 May 2026, Sviatoslav Zaiets was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. On 2 September of the same year, by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 853/2026, he was appointed Commander of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Brigadier General Sviatoslav Zaiets is a full holder of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi (3rd Class — 2 December 2016; 2nd Class — 22 May 2022; 1st Class — 17 November 2022).