Ukrainian Armed Forces leadership changes amid conflict: General Zaluzhny replaced by Syrsky

The friction between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valeriy Zaluzhny, has been common knowledge for a while. The general had openly criticized politicians who unduly interfered and sought to influence the decision-making of seasoned commanders. Zaluzhny faced accusations of harboring political ambitions.

President Zelensky met with Valeriy Zaluzhny on Thursday and informed him that his tenure as the commander of the Ukrainian army was over. Nevertheless, he is likely to remain in the general staff, leveraging his experience and strategic abilities. His contributions significantly led to Ukraine's defense against Russia in the initial weeks of the war.

President Zelensky has already nominated General Valeriy Zaluzhny's successor as the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: the highly-decorated officer, Oleksandr Syrsky.

The discord between General Valeriy Zaluzhny and President Zelensky has been a topic of conversation since at least the spring. The former often found himself butting heads with politicians when they insisted that Ukraine should begin a counteroffensive at any cost. Zaluzhny, however, had a different plan for dealing with the Russians, which he eventually had to revise.

The initial days of launching attacks on Russian positions proved devastating for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with General Zaluzhny horridly witnessing his soldiers fall on the infamous Surowikina line. The attack, which stretched over several months, only resulted in minimal progress for Ukraine by autumn. In response to this, General Zaluzhny openly criticized the undue pressure from politicians with a resounding commentary.

In discussion with "The Economist," he confessed that he had underestimated the enemy while planning the strike. "I made a mistake. Ukraine may fall into a trap," he confessed.

Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to Valeriy Zaluzhny for his "two years of service in defending Ukraine." During their meeting, they deliberated on who might succeed as the new leader of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. "Now is the time for such renewal. Valeriy Fedorovych has been offered to stay in the staff of the Armed Forces," the President of Ukraine announced on his Telegram channel.

As expected, General Valeriy Zaluzhny has been relieved of his duties.

President Zelensky officially announced on Thursday his appointment of General Oleksandr Syrsky as the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Until now, Syrsky had been working alongside Zaluzhny as the commander of the ground troops.

Commemorated for his leadership during the battles in 2014 and 2015, Syrsky successfully led his troops out of the Russian encirclement in the town of Debalceve. In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Syrsky orchestrated the defence of Kyiv, which the Russians had planned to seize within just three days. He also led the offensive that resulted in liberating Kharkiv from occupation.

Beyond doubt, Syrsky, Zelensky's trusted man in the army, will receive greater support, compared to the independent and politically ambitious Zaluzhny. The decisive factors here have been Syrsky's popularity and his forthright criticism of the president. The same applies to their divergent strategies for winning the war and making the Russians withdraw.

The future of General Valeriy Zaluzhny, in the backdrop of the ongoing war, remains to be seen. It would undoubtedly be a great loss for Ukraine were they to lose such a distinguished officer.