With a military ceremony and handing over the military flag, in the presence of the Army Chief of General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, the change of command of the Special Forces Battalion was carried out today at the “Ilinden” barracks.
The position of the Special Force Battalion commander was handed over from Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Ivanovski to Lieutenant Colonel Blagoj Naumov, who previously served as the deputy commander of this unit.
At the ceremony, General Lafchiski emphasized that by handing over the military flag to the new commander, he is entrusted with both a privilege and, at the same time, a responsibility in leading and commanding the unit. This is a unit that for more than 30 years has had a crucial role in defending the integrity and sovereignty of the homeland.
“Lieutenant Colonel Naumov takes command of the battalion at an exceptionally important time, during which the transformation and modernization of the unit must be successfully completed. This is a period that requires maximum dedication to strengthening the unit’s capacities and capabilities, where combat readiness will reach the desired level to respond to the challenges we face, as a result of the brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine,” said General Lafchiski.
He expressed recognition and gratitude to the outgoing commander for his successful leadership of the unit, urging him to continue supporting the unit.
The outgoing commander, Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Ivanovski, stated that not every officer gets the opportunity and trust to lead this unit, which requires exceptional wisdom, knowledge, and above all, integrity. He expressed gratitude to all members for their past support and dedication and congratulated the incoming commander, wishing him successful leadership of the Army’s most elite unit.
The incoming commander, Lieutenant Colonel Naumov, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him to lead the battalion and assured that under the motto “Always and everywhere first,” they will continue to work with dedication and sacrifice, justifying the trust gained from the citizens and the institutions of the system. Lieutenant Colonel Naumov also thanked all previous commanders for their contributions to building the unit.
Today’s ceremony in addition to the Chief of the General Staff, was also attended by: the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Azim Nuredin, the Chief of Staff of the Operations Command, Brigadier General Mirche Gjorgoski, generals in the Army, unit commanders, former commanders of the unit, representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other guests.
