Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Valery Zaluzhny, and appointed General Oleksandr Syrskyi in his place.
Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Zelensky stated that the high command needed to be “renewed,” noting that Zaluzhny could “remain on the team.” The president announced that he and General Zaluzhny had a “frank conversation” on necessary changes in the army.
“We must make this year a crucial one. Crucial for achieving Ukraine’s goals in the war. Russia cannot simply accept the existence of an independent Ukraine – the very fact of our country’s independent life.”
The President said he would expect a detailed plan for the armed forces this year, taking into account the reality of the war with Russia. He stated that a different approach to frontline management, mobilisation and recruitment was needed, as the previous one had proved ineffective and led to stalemate.
Reaction to the change in military leadership was mixed, with opposition MPs being the first to criticise the changes. Oleksiy Honcharenko, an opposition MP, called the move “a huge mistake” made by the president.
We will all have to pay for this mistake.
Another opposition MP, Valentyn Nalyvaychenko of the Batkivschina party, claimed that military leadership during war was “something that we must preserve, support, not criticise, but help in every possible way.”
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov thanked General Zaluzhny in a statement, declaring:
“General Valery Zaluzhny had one of the most difficult tasks – to lead the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Great War with Russia. But war does not remain the same. War changes and demands change. Battles 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes, for which we must be ready. New approaches, new strategies are needed.”
It is reported that in 2023, General Syrskyi commanded the battles for Bakhmut, which were much less successful for the AFU. Then Russia managed to capture the town and its surroundings, and the Ukraine’s counter-offensive launched in May 2023 virtually came to a halt in December. Russian military experts dubbed Syrskyi the Butcher of Bakhmut.
