According to the Washington Post, Ukrainian authorities informed Joe Biden about the possible dismissal of Top Ukrainian military commander Valery Zaluzhny in strategic disagreement with President Zelensky. But the information has not been confirmed in Kyiv.
As Russian aggression in Ukraine continues unabated, is Ukraine’s top military commander, General Valery Zaluzhny, in an ejection seat?
The only certainty is that, according to an article in the Washington Post published on Friday, the Ukrainian government had indeed informed the White House that President Volodymyr Zelensky had decided to fire General Zaluzhny.
According to Washington Postthe American authorities would have been content to take note of this decision considering it as a sovereign choice of the Ukrainian presidentaccording to reactions from personalities speaking on condition of anonymity.
At this stage, no Ukrainian decree has come to corroborate this possible dismissal. A source cited by the media Kyiv Independent however refers to a contact within the Ukrainian general staff. But this information was denied on the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
On Monday, Oliver Carroll, the correspondent of The Economist in Ukraine also seemed less categorical.
In a post published on X, after announcing that the dismissal of General Zaluzhny was being considered, the journalist declared that “rumors” in progress had “caused enormous indignation. There will perhaps be a step back”he writes.
Also on Monday, Voloymyr Zelensky’s spokesperson denied the rumor but has remained silent since that date.
Who is General Zaluzhny?
At 51, Valery Zaluzhny is the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armies. Very popular in Ukraine, he is considered one of the main architects of the resistance against the Russian invasion in February 2022, especially after the first counter-offensive launched in the fall of the same year.
It is also common knowledge thatdistrust has set in between the Ukrainian president and his top military commander. Firstly for tactical reasons: the general would like to mobilize some 500,000 new soldiers to face Russian power, which is far superior in numbers as the conflict soon enters its third year and the outcome of the war seems increasingly uncertain.
This request was reportedly refused by President Zelensky. On the one hand, because this would have too heavy financial and tax consequences, on the other hand because this increased mobilization would also be unpopular.
“The president does not believe that this massive mobilization of men aged 18 to 27 is desirable or justified at this stage”declared a close friend of Zelensky, still according to the Washington Post.
The distrust between the two men would also be of a political nature. The president suspects his High Commander of having political ambitions.
Other sources also indicate that the information leak on this possible dismissal of the general would have been orchestrated in order to test public opinion.
Who to succeed the general?
If Valery Zaluzhny’s departure were ultimately confirmed, the question is who could replace him. The name of the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, 38 years old, is mentioned. The man has training in special forces. His appointment could signal a shift toward drone strikes deep into Russian territory.
Another replacement would be considered. It would be aboutOleksandr Syrsky, 58 years old, the current commander of the ground forces. But this strategist would be particularly hated by the base for his “Soviet-style” methods.