The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has relieved General Valerii Zaluzhnyi from his position as Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, issuing the relevant decree on February 8.
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“I have decided to renew the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This decision is not about individuals, nor is it about politics. Rather, it concerns the structural efficacy of our military, the management of Ukraine's armed forces, and the utilization of combat experience from frontline commanders in this conflict,” stated Zelensky following his meeting with Zaluzhnyi.
According to the Ukrainian President, there is a pressing need for a reset, emphasizing that the headquarters across all levels, should grasp the realities of the front line as experienced by soldiers actively engaged in the conflict.
“The frontline commanders, who possess invaluable battlefield experience, must now assume roles of leadership throughout the entire military. Presently, the Defense Forces of Ukraine comprise nearly one million individuals, all called upon to defend the nation. However, the vast majority have not encountered the front lines to the extent of the minority directly engaged in combat. This necessitates a revised approach to rotations, frontline management, mobilization, and recruitment. Effective immediately, the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will transition to a new management team,” declared the President of Ukraine.
The newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is Colonel-General Alexander Syrsky, the Commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine on the Eastern Front. Zelensky highlighted Syrsky's leadership in defense operations for Kyiv and the liberation of Kharkiv.
“I extend my gratitude to General Zaluzhnyi for his two years of service. I am appreciative of the victories we have achieved together, and I commend all Ukrainian fighters who valiantly bear the heavy burden of this conflict. I have offered General Zaluzhnyi the opportunity to remain part of our team, and I would be grateful if he accepts,” remarked the President of Ukraine.
In recent weeks, media reports have speculated about Zaluzhnyi's potential removal. One version suggests that Zelensky's dissatisfaction stemmed from Zaluzhnyi's popularity, as well as from an interview published by The Economist in November, wherein the general opined that the conflict had reached a stalemate and that the assessment of Russia's exhaustion was misguided. Ukrainian authorities have denied any conflict between the Commander-in-Chief and the President.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi assumed the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in July 2021. A few months later, in February 2022, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. CNN reported that while many allies of Ukraine feared the capital city of Kyiv would fall within days and the rest of the country within weeks, Ukrainian troops, under Zaluzhnyi’s leadership, successfully repelled Russian forces from the capital. By the end of the year, they had also managed to recapture significant portions of the southern and eastern territories initially occupied during the early stages of the war.
