“Volodymyr Zelensky has no doubt about the patriotism, loyalty to the oath and the professionalism of Ruslan Khomchak, but he wants to see the synergy between the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which we do not see now. On the contrary, we are seeing conflicts, “said the spokesman for the head of state.
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Chomchak’s place will be taken by Valery Zaluzhny, who now heads the North Operational Command. Khomchak will get a position in the National Security and Defense Council, a body under the President of Ukraine.
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Chomčak’s appeal came after months of sharp conflict with Defense Minister Andrij Taran. The two fought a long official battle together, in which they questioned each other’s decisions and powers, and also avoided any personal contact.
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According to many sources, the conflict between the Minister of Defense and the head of the armed forces in the field of defense and security has crippled decision-making processes. The dismissal of the commander of the armed forces then indicates that the Minister of Defense, Taran, has emerged victorious for the time being.
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Zelensky appointed Khomchak to the head of the armed forces shortly after he became president in May 2019. Chomčak is best known for his role in the unfortunate battle of Ilovajsko in August 2014. The battle ended in victory for the separatists, who managed to keep the city and inflict heavy losses on Ukrainian forces.
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A large group of Ukrainian forces was then surrounded and massacred by the pro-Russian separatists, killing at least 366 Ukrainian soldiers. Chomchak and a handful of surviving soldiers managed to escape the deadly trap in Ilovajsk, but the general faced criticism for leading the battle.
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Ukrainian forces have been fighting pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country since April 2014. The conflict erupted shortly after Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. According to Kiev, the fighting claimed more than 13,000 lives.
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While in the second half of last year the opposing parties more or less respected the agreed ceasefire, this year the situation has worsened and tensions have escalated. Especially after Russia moved almost 100,000 troops to the border with Ukraine, the AFP agency recalls. Although Moscow announced the withdrawal of troops, according to Kiev and the West, it withdrew only part of the forces.
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Since the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict with pro-Russian separatists in Donbas, Kiev has described Russia as an “aggressor” and territories over which it has lost control as “temporarily occupied.” Moscow continues to deny direct involvement in the conflict, claiming that it provides separatists with only humanitarian aid and political support, even though the Ukrainian army has seized Russian-made weapons in Donbas.
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