News Feed

Humeniuk appointed deputy head of communications for Southern Operation Command

2 min read
Humeniuk appointed deputy head of communications for Southern Operation Command
Captain Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Operational Command of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, talks to the Kyiv Independent about the military situation in southern Ukraine. (Oleksandr Gimanov)

Nataliia Humeniuk, who was dismissed in April from her position as the head of the Southern Defense Forces' press department, has been appointed the deputy head of the Southern Operational Command's communications department, Humeniuk told Detector Media on June 5.

Humeniuk said that "everything related to the communications of the Southern Operational Command" is under her authority.

The communications department was created  "as part of the communication reform in the Armed Forces as a whole," Humeniuk said.

"It is a relatively new structure," Humeniuk said, adding that the department is tasked with improving "communications with the conclusions that have been drawn since the beginning of the full-scale invasion."

Humeniuk declined to say when she started this role, as the appointment of a military officer is "confidential information."

In her work as the head of the Southern Defense Forces' press department, Humeniuk drew criticism from the Ukrainian media association Mediarukh for allegedly preventing journalists from properly covering Russian crimes in Kherson Oblast.

Mediarukh sent a letter on April 16 calling for Humeniuk's replacement. The letter was addressed to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Chief of the General Staff Anatolii Barhylevych and was signed by 100 journalists and media workers.

The letter accused Humeniuk of denying journalists access to regions where she oversees the military's work with the media.

In a comment for the Kyiv Independent, Humeniuk said that there had been no violations of rules on her part and that the "work has always been organized in accordance with operational safety."

Ukrainian public broadcaster launches broadcasting separate from state-sponsored telethon
The telethon was seen as a legitimate response to Russia’s aggression but later it was accused of monopolizing television coverage and stifling dissent. Some opposition television channels have complained that they were excluded from the telethon due to their political stance.
Article image
Avatar
Elsa Court

Audience Development Manager

News Feed

"It is legitimate and lawful for China to conduct normal economic, trade and energy cooperation with all countries around the world, including Russia," China's Foreign Ministry said in response to question about Russian oil purchases posed by Bloomberg. "We will continue to adopt reasonable energy security measures in accordance with our national interests."

"The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States of America, and President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, will take place next Friday, August 15, 2025, in the Great State of Alaska," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that "further details will follow."

Video

At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, foreigners flocked to Ukraine to join its defense against Russian forces. More than three years later, the foreign fighters who remain are a different breed — driven by a deep commitment to Ukraine.

Show More