Ukraine’s Popular Army Chief Valery Zaluzhny Fired Amid Growing Tensions with President Zelensky
In a surprising turn of events, Ukraine’s popular army chief, Valery Zaluzhny, has been fired by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The decision comes after weeks of speculation and growing tensions between the two leaders. Although a formal announcement has not been made, sources suggest that a presidential decree is expected by the end of the week, marking the biggest military shakeup since Russia’s invasion two years ago.
Rumors of Zaluzhny’s dismissal began circulating on Monday evening, lending credibility to the rift between President Zelensky and his commander-in-chief. The failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive last year seemed to have strained their relationship further. In an interview and essay with The Economist magazine in November, Zaluzhny described the war with Russia as a stalemate, which reportedly heightened tensions between him and the president.
Initially, both the presidential spokesman and the defense ministry denied the rumors of Zaluzhny’s dismissal. However, sources reveal that during a small gathering at the president’s office on Monday, attended by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Zelensky informed Zaluzhny of his decision to dismiss him. The president even offered him a different position, which Zaluzhny declined. This conversation confirmed Zelensky’s determination to remove him from his current post.
The president’s office has not provided further comments regarding this matter. However, two names are being discussed as possible successors to Zaluzhny. One of them is Kyrylo Budanov, the current head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate. Budanov, known for his strong ties with President Zelensky, represents a new generation of military leaders. When asked about his potential appointment as Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief, Budanov dismissed the speculation, suggesting that he would not be speaking to CNN if such an appointment had been made.
The other frontrunner for the position is Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander of Ukrainian Land Forces. Despite the lack of response from Syrskyi’s office, sources indicate that he is being considered as a potential candidate.
Valery Zaluzhny, despite the failure of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, remains one of the most popular leaders in the country. A recent poll conducted by the Kyiv Institute of Sociology revealed that 88% of Ukrainians support him, while President Zelensky’s approval rating stands at 62%. The poll was conducted after differences between the two leaders became apparent regarding the prosecution of the war.
Zaluzhny’s comments in The Economist, where he described the war as a stalemate, drew immediate criticism from the president’s office. However, Zelensky did not openly criticize him but expressed his desire for concrete actions on the battlefield during a news conference in December.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive, launched in June, aimed to drive Russian forces back from the territories they have occupied since 2022. However, the gains made by Ukraine were modest, with their forces only managing to advance as far as Robotyne, approximately 20 kilometers south of Orikhiv. The lack of progress prompted a call from the armed forces for a massive mobilization effort of up to half a million new conscripts.
While the decision to dismiss Valery Zaluzhny has sparked controversy among soldiers on the front lines, who view him as a worthy general, it remains to be seen how this change in leadership will impact Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia. As tensions continue to rise, Ukraine must navigate these challenges and find a way to make significant progress in its fight against Russian forces.