By Marita MoloneyBBC News8 February 2024Image source, Volodymyr Zelensky/XImage caption, President Zelensky posted this picture with Gen Zaluzhnyi in announcing his replacementUkraine’s president has removed Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces. This move comes after speculation about a possible disagreement between the president and Gen Zaluzhnyi, who has been leading Ukraine’s war efforts since the conflict started. Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, a battle-hardened general, was named as his replacement through a presidential decree. This is the most significant change in Ukraine’s military leadership since the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022.President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that there was a need to “renew” the high command and that Gen Zaluzhnyi could “remain on the team”. “A new management team will now take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he announced on Thursday.Gen Zaluzhnyi is a well-liked general who is trusted by Ukrainian soldiers and the public, and is considered somewhat of a national hero. His recent approval ratings have been higher than those of Mr. Zelensky. The president mentioned that he had a “frank conversation” with Gen Zaluzhnyi regarding the necessary changes in the army, and expressed his gratitude to the general for defending Ukraine from Russia.The new army chief, Gen Syrskyi, has experience in both defensive and offensive warfare, according to Mr. Zelensky. He led the defense of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. He then orchestrated Ukraine’s surprising and successful counter-attack in Kharkiv that same summer, and has since been overseeing military operations in eastern Ukraine – one of the main fronts in Ukraine’s counter-offensive.Image source, VALENTYN OGIRENKOImage caption, General Oleksandr Syrskyi will now lead Ukraine’s war effort”This year must be pivotal,” stated Mr. Zelensky. “Critical for achieving Ukraine’s objectives in the war. Russia cannot simply accept the existence of an independent Ukraine – the very existence of our country’s independent life.” He added that his “renewal” of the army’s leadership was “not about surnames” or politics, but rather about the management of Ukraine’s armed forces and the experience of battlefield commanders.”The army’s actions need to become much more technologically advanced. The generalship must be reset,” he emphasized.Mr. Zelensky also stated that he anticipated a detailed plan for the armed forces this year, considering the reality of the war with Russia. He highlighted the need for a different approach to frontline management, mobilization, and recruitment. Mykhailo Podolyak, who serves as an adviser to the head of the president’s office, stated that the move was necessary in order to review the tactics employed in Ukraine’s counter-offensive last year. He echoed Mr. Zelensky’s remarks about the need to prevent stagnation on the frontline and to find high-tech solutions. However, the reaction to the announcement has been mixed, with opposition MPs being the first to criticize the shake-up. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, thanked Gen Zaluzhnyi for his service to Ukraine, expressing hope that the authorities would justify the changes.Oleksii Honcharenko, an MP from the opposition party led by former President Petro Poroshenko, labeled the move as “a huge mistake” by the president. He remarked that it would pose risks for the country, adding: “We will all have to pay for this mistake.” Another opposition MP, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko from the Batkivschina party, stated that the military leadership during the war “is something that we must preserve, support, not criticize, but help in every possible way”.Ukraine’s defense minister, Rustem Umerov, expressed gratitude to Gen Zaluzhnyi in a statement, saying: “General Valerii Zaluzhnyi had one of the most difficult tasks – to lead the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Great War with Russia.”He acknowledged that war is not static and necessitates change. He noted that the battles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 each represent different realities. “2024 will bring new changes, for which we must be ready. New approaches, new strategies are needed,” he added. “Today, a decision was made regarding the necessity to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am sincerely grateful to Valerii Fedorovych for all his achievements and victories.”
