KYIV — Ukraine’s top commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, appeared to be officially removed Thursday night — the latest twist in a drawn-out saga between him and President Volodymyr Zelensky, who told the military chief 10 days ago that he was being dismissed.
But Zelensky did not immediately name a successor as commander in chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, fueling further uncertainty over who will lead the difficult fight against Russia’s continuing invasion.
In posts on both Zelensky’s and Zaluzhny’s social media accounts, the two men posed shaking hands and smiling. “A decision was made about the need to change approaches and strategy,” Zaluzhny wrote.
Zelensky’s post said that he “thanked” Zaluzhny, 50, for “two years of protecting Ukraine.” He added that in their meeting Thursday, they discussed “updated leadership” for Ukraine’s military.
“The time for such an update is now,” Zelensky wrote.
One leading candidate is Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, 38-year-old Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov. His appointment would potentially signal a move toward asymmetric tactics — such as the drone strikes deep into Russian territory that Budanov has often ordered — in a war where the front lines have seen little change in more than a year. But Budanov, with a background in special forces, does not have experience as an army commander.
I really hope this was a very calculated decision over the long term instead of just a political power play over who is the most popular. The future will tell.
Middle of a war with no named successor and lack of US funding? This looks bad.
Why would Zelensky replace Zaluzhny with the guy who spent 5 months pointlessly banging his head on Bakhmut’s flanks during Ukraine’s counteroffensive and whose pre-2022 combat experience was the (disastrous) Battle of Debaltseve? Is he stupid?
Let’s hope this is a good sign. Ukrainian front line hasn’t moved much in more than a year and I do think it’s time for the central command in Ukraine to rethink their strategies. Sitting in trenches for extended periods of time and raining bombs on each other isn’t really a good strategy as it wastes ammo and resources with no results.
No way, it must be a russian propaganda. /s
Oleksandr Syrskyi was born in 1965 in Vladimir, Russian SFSR, then in the Soviet Union.[4] He graduated from the Moscow Higher Military Command School
Zelensky hinted it’s due to failures in 2023 counteroffensive, which was a “super success”, according to reddit.
I’m curious on what this is about?
Zaluzhny is broadly viewed as highly competent by both his troops and western peers. Ukrainian forces outperformed all expectations under his command. If he was given the aids and manpower needed and frankly available then god knows where we’d be.
Hope this works out. Otherwise Zelensky will be needing that ride after all.
Russian propaganda. Reddit told me Zaluzhny was not going to be fired
Oh shit… Now they’re f¥cked. Not so clever decision at all.
That’s not true, it’s russian (with the smallest R possible) propaganda and a deep fake of Zelenskyy and a putin’s ploy to undermine the western support of Ukraine and to sow distrust in the united Ukrainian society.
Ok shills it’s time to spin this however you want. Last week you said this is not happening. Is the source bad or what’s now?
Ukraine needs weapons, ammunition, and more international volunteers asap
Well he did good, but maybe it is time for a change, the situation right now is not too good for Ukraine due to lack of funding
He’s highly respected by the troops and his repayment is hated, by all accounts. This should be challenging for morale.
From outsider’s perspective, it seems it should be the other way around, with Zelensky being out of touch for many months. Wish to be wrong, but I my gut tells me the things will only keep getting worse for Ukraine and their leadership will greatly contribute to that.
WE NEED MORE GAME CHANGERS!!!
Zelenskyy wants to have his puppet as a Chief commander.
I understand that there will be numerous protests, because the population of Ukraine was not asked, although according to all polls Zaluzhny’s approval rating was extremely high, higher than that of Zelensky and none of the Ukrainians did not fully believe that Zaluzhny will be replaced, respectively, as in any other free and democratic country people will take to the streets and express their protest, right pro UA?
*A new type of forces is being created in the structure of the Armed Forces – the Unmanned Systems Forces. The first commander is to be appointed.*
*There is an obvious need to improve the quality of training for the warriors – only trained soldiers can be on the front line.*
*The excessive and unjustified number of personnel in the headquarters must be adjusted.*
*A realistic, detailed action plan for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2024 must be presented. It must take into account the real situation on the battlefield now and the prospects.*
*Each combat brigade on the first line must receive effective Western weapons, and there must be a fair redistribution of such weapons in favor of the first line.*
*The logistics problems must be resolved. Avdiivka must not wait for the generals to find out which warehouses the drones are stuck in.*
These are parts from Zelenskys speech. think these are the main points for the changes to come. All problems that has been there since day 1.
This is such an idiotic decision.
Buckle up, buckaroos. It’s all downhill from here.
Zelensky=Putin with lower IQ but more ambition
He need to get removed ASAP
26 comments
KYIV — Ukraine’s top commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, appeared to be officially removed Thursday night — the latest twist in a drawn-out saga between him and President Volodymyr Zelensky, who told the military chief 10 days ago that he was being dismissed.
But Zelensky did not immediately name a successor as commander in chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, fueling further uncertainty over who will lead the difficult fight against Russia’s continuing invasion.
In posts on both Zelensky’s and Zaluzhny’s social media accounts, the two men posed shaking hands and smiling. “A decision was made about the need to change approaches and strategy,” Zaluzhny wrote.
Zelensky’s post said that he “thanked” Zaluzhny, 50, for “two years of protecting Ukraine.” He added that in their meeting Thursday, they discussed “updated leadership” for Ukraine’s military.
“The time for such an update is now,” Zelensky wrote.
One leading candidate is Ukraine’s head of military intelligence, 38-year-old Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov. His appointment would potentially signal a move toward asymmetric tactics — such as the drone strikes deep into Russian territory that Budanov has often ordered — in a war where the front lines have seen little change in more than a year. But Budanov, with a background in special forces, does not have experience as an army commander.
Read the full story here, and skip the paywall with email registration: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/08/valery-zaluzhny-commander-ukraine-removed/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/08/valery-zaluzhny-commander-ukraine-removed/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
I really hope this was a very calculated decision over the long term instead of just a political power play over who is the most popular. The future will tell.
Middle of a war with no named successor and lack of US funding? This looks bad.
Why would Zelensky replace Zaluzhny with the guy who spent 5 months pointlessly banging his head on Bakhmut’s flanks during Ukraine’s counteroffensive and whose pre-2022 combat experience was the (disastrous) Battle of Debaltseve? Is he stupid?
Let’s hope this is a good sign. Ukrainian front line hasn’t moved much in more than a year and I do think it’s time for the central command in Ukraine to rethink their strategies. Sitting in trenches for extended periods of time and raining bombs on each other isn’t really a good strategy as it wastes ammo and resources with no results.
No way, it must be a russian propaganda. /s
Oleksandr Syrskyi was born in 1965 in Vladimir, Russian SFSR, then in the Soviet Union.[4] He graduated from the Moscow Higher Military Command School
Zelensky hinted it’s due to failures in 2023 counteroffensive, which was a “super success”, according to reddit.
I’m curious on what this is about?
Zaluzhny is broadly viewed as highly competent by both his troops and western peers. Ukrainian forces outperformed all expectations under his command. If he was given the aids and manpower needed and frankly available then god knows where we’d be.
Hope this works out. Otherwise Zelensky will be needing that ride after all.
Russian propaganda. Reddit told me Zaluzhny was not going to be fired
Oh shit… Now they’re f¥cked. Not so clever decision at all.
That’s not true, it’s russian (with the smallest R possible) propaganda and a deep fake of Zelenskyy and a putin’s ploy to undermine the western support of Ukraine and to sow distrust in the united Ukrainian society.
Ok shills it’s time to spin this however you want. Last week you said this is not happening. Is the source bad or what’s now?
Ukraine needs weapons, ammunition, and more international volunteers asap
Well he did good, but maybe it is time for a change, the situation right now is not too good for Ukraine due to lack of funding
He’s highly respected by the troops and his repayment is hated, by all accounts. This should be challenging for morale.
From outsider’s perspective, it seems it should be the other way around, with Zelensky being out of touch for many months. Wish to be wrong, but I my gut tells me the things will only keep getting worse for Ukraine and their leadership will greatly contribute to that.
WE NEED MORE GAME CHANGERS!!!
Zelenskyy wants to have his puppet as a Chief commander.
I understand that there will be numerous protests, because the population of Ukraine was not asked, although according to all polls Zaluzhny’s approval rating was extremely high, higher than that of Zelensky and none of the Ukrainians did not fully believe that Zaluzhny will be replaced, respectively, as in any other free and democratic country people will take to the streets and express their protest, right pro UA?
*A new type of forces is being created in the structure of the Armed Forces – the Unmanned Systems Forces. The first commander is to be appointed.*
*There is an obvious need to improve the quality of training for the warriors – only trained soldiers can be on the front line.*
*The excessive and unjustified number of personnel in the headquarters must be adjusted.*
*A realistic, detailed action plan for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2024 must be presented. It must take into account the real situation on the battlefield now and the prospects.*
*Each combat brigade on the first line must receive effective Western weapons, and there must be a fair redistribution of such weapons in favor of the first line.*
*The logistics problems must be resolved. Avdiivka must not wait for the generals to find out which warehouses the drones are stuck in.*
These are parts from Zelenskys speech. think these are the main points for the changes to come. All problems that has been there since day 1.
This is such an idiotic decision.
Buckle up, buckaroos. It’s all downhill from here.
Zelensky=Putin with lower IQ but more ambition
He need to get removed ASAP