Ukraine's top commander Valery Zaluzhny, who has led Kyiv's forces throughout Russia's invasion, has been removed from his post, defence minister Rustem Umerov said on Thursday.

https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/9406

I am grateful to General Zaluzhny for two years of defense. I am grateful for every victory that we achieved together and thanks to all Ukrainian soldiers who heroically carry this war on themselves. We talked frankly today about what needs to change in the army. Urgent changes. I offered General Zaluzhny to continue to be together in the team of the Ukrainian state. I will be grateful for his consent.

From today, a new management team is joining the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I want the vision of war to be the same in our soldiers in Robotino or Avdiivka, and in the General Staff and the Headquarters. I had dozens of conversations with commanders of different levels. In particular, today I spoke with brigade generals Andriy Gnatov, Mykhailo Drapaty, Igor Skybyuk and colonels Pavlo Palisa and Vadym Sukharevsky.

They are all considered for leadership positions in the army and will serve under the guidance of the most experienced Ukrainian commander. He has a successful experience of defense - he conducted the Kyiv defensive operation. He also has a successful experience of advance - the Kharkiv liberation operation.

I appointed Lieutenant General Syrsky as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today I also spoke with generals Moysyuk and Zabrodsky. Their experience is in the service of the state.

2024 can be a successful year for Ukraine only on condition of effective changes in the basis of our defense, which is the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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  • tal@lemmy.today
    10·
    9 months ago

    Zaluzhny is widely popular with the public and this may hurt confidence in the government.

    I don’t know much about domestic politics in Ukraine. Michael Kofman was critical of the move. But end of the day, it was Zelenskyy’s call to make, we do not have full vision into the inputs to the decision, and while I don’t know anything about Syrsky, I do not believe that Zaluzhnyi is the only competent military leader in Ukraine.

    And Zelenskyy’s fate is on the line on putting someone competent in the spot at least as much as anyone else’s, so whatever the disagreement between Zaluzhnyi and him, I think that he has a strong incentive to make sure that whoever does occupy the office is competent.