Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny.
Zaluzhny has been leading Kiev since the beginning of Ukraine’s two-year war with Russia. Zelensky replaced him with Alexander Sirsky.
Zaluzhny served as Ukraine’s army chief for two years. Zelensky thanked Zaluzhny in a post on social media Thursday. He said it was time for a change in the military leadership. Earlier there were speculations of a rift between President Zelensky and General Zaluzhny. After that, the news of his removal came forward. This is the biggest change in Ukraine’s military leadership since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Zelensky said the High Command would have to be “reorganized” and that General Zaluzhani could stay with the team. Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. General Zaluzhny is a popular general who is highly trusted by the Ukrainian army and public, and is a national hero of the country. Recent opinion polls have shown him to be more popular than Zelensky.
