Valery Zaluzhny (second from left) and President Volodymyr Zelensky photographed together during a military exercise in November 2023. Photo: HANDOUT / AFP / NTB
Speculation that President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has fired his defense chief gained new momentum on Monday.
Published:
Less than 20 minutes ago
A spokesman for the Ukrainian president finally had to come out and deny that General Valery Zaluzhny (50) has been fired.
It reports Ukrainskaya Pravda and other Ukrainian media Monday evening.
The relationship between the two has been put to the test after Zaluzhny stated to the Economist that the war is entering a new phase of stagnant war of attrition. Zelenskyj would not accept that and went out and contradicted the defense chief.
The general is a popular man among many Ukrainians after he won widespread acclaim for the Ukrainian army’s heroic efforts in the first months after Vladimir Putin ordered full-scale war in February 2022.
According to Ukrainskaja Pravda, President Zelenskyi’s spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov denies that Valery Zaluzhny has finished as defense chief, the Suspilne TV channel reports Telegram Monday evening.
Earlier on Monday evening, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense issued a cryptic message Telegram where it said “No, that’s not right” – without specifying what.
Not just Ukrainian experts, but also the Economist’s correspondent Oliver Carrol hinted Monday night that Zaluzhny was about to be fired.
A source claims to Ukrainskaja Pravda that Zaluzhny was offered the ambassadorship, but declined. This has not been confirmed by anyone else.
The case naturally also receives a lot of attention in the Russian media. Izvestija cites several politicians who allegedly confirmed that Zaluzhny is done with the job.
The deputy head of the Ukrainian parliament’s security committee, Mariana Bezujla, has previously written on Facebook that he should resign, reports Exported.
Published:
Published: 30.01.24 at 02:48
2024-01-30 01:48:42
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