Marta Gichko07:44, 24.06.26

Christopher Donaghue coordinated support for Ukraine and commanded American troops in Europe.

A senior US general, Christopher Donaghue , who leads US ground forces in Europe and Africa and has played a key role in supporting Ukraine, is to leave the service early. The Financial Times reports that the decision was made as part of a major personnel purge being carried out by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The general is expected to announce his resignation soon, and will officially complete his military service in July.

Donaghue is a four-star general and a veteran of numerous combat operations. He has served in Iraq, Syria and other conflict zones, and also made history as the last American service member to leave Afghanistan when U.S. troops withdraw in 2021.

The general had played a key role in coordinating U.S. military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia in recent years. The reasons for his removal are not officially stated.

At the same time, the Financial Times notes that Hegseth has repeatedly criticized the actions of the Joe Biden administration during the chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and initiated an investigation into those events.

Personnel purges at the Pentagon

Donaghue’s resignation comes just two months after the firing of U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George . According to the publication, such personnel decisions are causing concern among the American military.

Former senior US military officials told the Financial Times that an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear has developed in the Pentagon due to a series of dismissals of senior officers.

Over the past year and a half, Hegseth has removed or blocked the promotions of dozens of high-ranking military officials, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Director of the National Security Agency General Timothy Howe.Read also:

The military highly appreciates the general

US special operations and intelligence expert Sean Naylor stressed that Donaghue has an impeccable reputation among the military.

“As a combat-proven officer, leading the Army’s most elite troops during the most difficult years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Donaghue is widely respected in both special operations and conventional units of the Army,” Naylor noted.

Atmosphere at the Pentagon – latest news

As UNIAN reported, since Pete Hegseth took over as Pentagon chief, he has fired more than 20 senior officers in the structure and has also significantly worsened the department’s culture.

According to CNN, after Hegseth arrived, there was a clear understanding in the Pentagon that they needed to avoid attracting the attention of management by creating as little noise as possible.

Journalists consider the firing of Randy George to be indicative . Sources called the decision “part of an unspecified culture war that Hegseth wants to leave behind.”

(C)UNIAN 2026