Ukraine’s Zelensky removes army chief amid war with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed the top military commander Valery Zaluzhny in what seems to be a major shake-up of the country’s war strategy in the third year of the conflict with Russia.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced the news in a statement on Thursday while Zelensky had already hinted at a change in Ukraine’s tactics against Russia.
“Today, a decision was made to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am sincerely grateful to Valery Fedorovych (Zaluzhny) for all his achievements and victories,” the defense minister said on social media.
Zaluzhny had led the Ukrainian army since the beginning of the war in February 2022.
The commander’s removal comes at a time Ukraine grapples with shortages of ammunition and personnel.
The 50-year-old general – dubbed the “Iron General” by Ukrainian media – was popular nationwide and among his comrades but the failure of a much-anticipated counteroffensive last summer and public disagreement with the Ukrainian president tarnished his reputation at Zelensky’s office.
“Today we had a frank discussion about what needs to change in the army. Urgent changes,” Zelensky said in a statement on social media. “I have offered General Zaluzhny to continue to be part of the team of the Ukrainian state. I would be grateful for his consent.”
Zelensky also said Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who commanded Ukraine’s lightning autumn 2022 counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, would replace Zaluzhny as the army chief.
Zelensky appears resolute in seeking urgent changes. It has been a year of deadlocked trench warfare, with Russian troops persistently pressing against outmanned Ukrainian forces across the sprawling front.
Most of the Ukrainian attacks against Russia are reportedly carried out by Western-supplied ammunition. The West, the United States in particular, has supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons and munitions.
Moscow has repeatedly warned against flooding Kiev with weapons and munitions, saying it will only prolong the conflict.
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