President Zelensky officially fired the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army
(Baonghean.vn) - General Valery Zaluzhny, who led the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the conflict with Russia, was dismissed on February 8. The move came days after President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at the decision in an interview, causing a public backlash.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov made the announcement on Facebook, praising Zaluzhny for carrying out “one of the most difficult tasks” in leading the army against Russia. “But war is no longer the same. War is changing and requires change. The war in 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes that we must be ready for. New approaches, new strategies are needed,” Umerov wrote. “Today, a decision was made on the need to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he added.
Rumors of Zaluzhny’s imminent removal began circulating in late January, coming from both military and political sources in Kiev, but were officially denied. On February 2, the Washington Post reported that President Zelensky had informed the White House of his decision to fire Zaluzhny and that administration officials had accepted it. On February 3, Zelensky spoke to Italy’s RAI TG1 news channel and said he was planning to replace “a whole range of state leaders”—not just the military.
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) advised the president that such a move could lead to riots in the capital, Ukrainska Pravda reported on February 7, citing sources. Former President Pyotr Poroshenko addressed the Ukrainian parliament on February 7, telling Zelensky to leave Zaluzhny alone and start with his own cabinet if he felt the need to purge. Shortly after Zaluzhny’s dismissal, President Zelensky appointed the commander of the ground forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, as the country’s new military chief, in a dramatic military reshuffle nearly two years after Russia’s invasion.
“Starting today (February 8), a new leadership team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “I have appointed Colonel General Syrsky as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” In addition, President Zelensky called on Ukraine’s new military leadership to come up with a new strategy this year to defeat Russian forces.
“A detailed, realistic action plan for the Armed Forces of Ukraine until 2024 should be put on the table. Taking into account the current situation on the battlefield and the prospects,” Zelensky wrote on social media. The Ukrainian leader also said he had invited the outgoing commander Zaluzhny to continue his country’s efforts to fight back against Russian forces.
For his part, shortly after his dismissal, Mr. Zaluzhny admitted that Ukraine's military strategy "must change" after nearly two years of conflict, shortly after his dismissal. "The tasks of 2022 are different from the tasks of 2024. Therefore, everyone must also change and adapt to the new reality. To win together," - Mr. Zaluzhny declared after his long-rumored dismissal was officially announced.
