Political and military leadership of the full-scale war since 2022 - on both sides. Short profiles and portraits from open sources.
Six key figures: the president, Presidential Office, Defence Ministry, General Staff, and MFA.
President of Ukraine, Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Elected president in 2019. Since the full-scale invasion of 24 February 2022 he has remained in Kyiv, coordinating defence, diplomacy, and international military assistance.
Photo: president.gov.ua · CC BY 4.0
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
Appointed head of the Presidential Office on 2 January 2026. Previously headed Defence Intelligence (HUR) from 2020; a public voice of Ukrainian military intelligence during the full-scale war.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Appointed commander-in-chief on 22 July 2026. Previously commanded the Ground Forces, the Khortytsia OSGT, and the Joint Forces; major general.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Chief of the General Staff of the AFU
Appointed chief of the General Staff in July 2026. Previously commanded the Air Assault Forces; Hero of Ukraine.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Minister of Defence of Ukraine
Confirmed by parliament as defence minister in August 2026 (after serving as acting minister). SBU major general; long-time Alpha special-operations officer.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / MoD UA · CC BY 4.0
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Foreign minister since September 2024. Career diplomat; previously a deputy head of the Presidential Office and ambassador to Turkey.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Six key figures: the president, government, Defence Ministry, General Staff, Security Council, and MFA.
President of the Russian Federation, Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Has led Russia since 2000 (with a period as prime minister). On 24 February 2022 he announced a “special military operation” - the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Photo: kremlin.ru · CC BY 4.0
Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Prime minister since January 2020. Oversees the cabinet and economic mobilisation under wartime conditions and sanctions.
Photo: government.ru / Wikimedia · CC BY 4.0
Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation
Appointed defence minister in May 2024 (replacing Shoigu). An economist by training; tasked with defence-spending efficiency and the war economy.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / MoD RF · CC BY 4.0
Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces
Chief of the General Staff since 2012. De facto operational head of Russian forces in the war against Ukraine; appointed commander of the joint grouping in 2023.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / MoD RF · CC BY 4.0
Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation
Defence minister 2012–2024; Security Council secretary since May 2024. A long-time Putin ally who oversaw the war in Ukraine as defence minister.
Photo: kremlin.ru / Wikimedia · CC BY 4.0
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Foreign minister since 2004. Speaks for Moscow’s foreign-policy line on the war, negotiations, and relations with the West and the Global South.
Photo: kremlin.ru / MFA · CC BY 4.0
Sources: official sites (president.gov.ua, mod.gov.ua, kremlin.ru), presidential decrees, open references. Photos: CC BY.
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