[2] Since a decree by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 28 March 2020, the posts of Chief of the General Staff and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces have been separate.

The office created upon the reorganization of the Soviet Kyiv Military District when its head, Colonel General Viktor Chechevatov,[6] after receiving the offer to be appointed to the post, refused to pledge his allegiance to the Ukrainian people.

Originally it was known as Chief of the Headquarters and was designated as the First Deputy of the Minister of Defense.

In 2002 as part of military reform, the post was separated from the civil service and lost its ministerial deputy functions.

In 2005 Chief of the General Staff was reaffirmed as the primary commander of the Armed Forces in the country and was granted a parallel post of Commander-in-Chief.