On February 24, 2022, the eyes of the world were on Ukraine. Russia had launched an invasion of the country and President Vladimir Putin’s goal was to take control of Ukraine within days.
Almost a year has passed and Putin has so far failed in his plan.
Because the Ukrainian defense fought back. They fought Russia outside the capital Kiev and limited the fighting to the east of the country.
The man who can take most of the credit is the Ukrainian defense chief, Valery Zaluzhnyji.
During 2022, he was, among other things, named one of the 100 most influential people in the world in Time magazine and appointed commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Army.
– The brains that Ukraine needed
Former Norwegian Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug pays tribute to Zaluzhnyji’s efforts. Dalhaug says he does not personally know of any military observers who would think the Ukrainian defense chief has done a terrible job.
– He was very skilled militarily. He is the main architect behind the strategy Ukraine has pursued since February 24 that has yielded significant progress on the battlefield, Dalhaug tells Dagbladet.
Fresh in the role
Valery Zaluzhnyji was born in the city of Zvjahel, located in northwestern Ukraine, on July 8, 1973.
He graduated from the Odessa military academy in 1997. Since then, the now 49-year-old defense chief has risen through the ranks to platoon commander, company commander and battalion commander in the Ukrainian army.
Despite impressing during the war, Zaluzhnyji is new to his role as defense chief.
As late as July 2021, he was appointed chief of defense. After the start of the war he was appointed commanding general. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy I sin tell 5. mars 2022.
Zaluzhnyji belongs to a generation of military officers in Ukraine who have their military career only in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, he has no background from the Red Army of the Soviet Union.
– I had a chance
There is no doubt that the general’s choice carries weight. There are few people who have so much power and responsibility.
The choices he makes affect not only the direction the war takes, but also the fate of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians in his country.
– Unlikely
Recently, Zaluzhnyji said in a magazine interview The Economist, a strategy it pursued in the days leading up to and during the February Russian invasion. While the rest of the world held its breath, fearing that Ukraine and its military were in danger of complete collapse.
– The Americans told us to prepare to defend the country. But we had a chance and we took it. Our task was to distribute our smaller forces in such a way as to use unconventional tactics to stop the attack, he tells the magazine.
LEADING: Defense chief Valery Zaluzhnyji pictured on February 19, just days before the war broke out. Photo: NTB
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– Not extraordinary
Nor does he hide the fact that he leads the Ukrainian military very differently than his counterpart in Russia, Sergei Surovikin, who leads Russian forces in Ukraine.
The totalitarian approach doesn’t work in Ukraine, Zaluzhnyji explains. He tells The Economist his strategy is to listen to those on the ground. Because that’s where the stakes are.
He is therefore humble when describing his own efforts as chief of defense.
– I’m not doing anything extraordinary. I just do my job, which I love, says Zaluzhnyji.
– It weakens Putin’s image
Like most of his colleagues, he took part in the fighting in Donbass in 2014 and 2015. Since the war began in 2022, he has carried his pattern in his mind since Ukraine was last attacked from Russia:
In his office he has a photo of the now deceased Ukrainian general, Hennady Vorobiov, who commanded the Ukrainian ground forces from 2009 to 2014.
Among other things, he was known for introducing a culture in the military where you should have respect for your subordinates.
– Every time I look at the photo, I think: “What would Hennady Vorobiov do?” says Zaluzhnyji.
– The leader in contention
When Zaluzhnyji was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world in Time magazinehe did not let US military leader Mark A. Milley’s words of praise wait for him in justification.
– In the midst of the chaos, the commander-in-chief, Zaluzhnyji, stood out as the military brains his country needed. His leadership has allowed Ukrainian forces to quickly adapt and seize the initiative against Russia on the battlefield, Milley writes, adding:
– General Zaluzhnyji is the man behind this achievement, who carries the huge burden of being the leader in battle. His work will be remembered forever.
Growing dissatisfaction: – Frustration
Former Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug also believes Zaluzhnyji did an incredibly good job. At the same time, Dalhaug believes Zaluzhnyji was smart not to seek political attention, despite his popularity in Ukraine.
– He seems to be very aware of his role, and that it is the political leadership that is responsible, especially President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, says Dalhaug and adds:
– History will praise him for how he behaved in this very difficult period.
– Can hit the enemy
Although the Ukrainian military already fought Russian forces outside the capital Kiev earlier in the war, Zaluzhny has no doubts that Russia will try to recapture Kiev.
– Russia is preparing 200,000 new soldiers. I have no doubt they will try again in Kiev, he tells The Economist.
Dalhaug, for his part, does not believe that an offensive against Kiev will be launched anytime soon.
– Zaluzhny gives a realistic assessment of how big forces Russia really has at its disposal and what offensive capability it has. It will be very challenging for Russia to open a new offensive against Kiev. Russia’s forces and the amount of equipment do not indicate that such an offensive has a chance of success, he says.
However, Zaluzhny is in good spirits and believes that Russia cannot win the war.
– I know I can beat the enemy. But I need resources, she says in the interview.
