Despite the setback, Zelensky is still preparing to dismiss Zaluzhny

On Monday, Zelensky offered Zaluzhny a new position, but he declined. This information was shared with FT journalists by four sources familiar with the course of the discussions. The sources note that, as a result, the President did not dismiss Zaluzhny and may not take this step for some time — after reports of the possible departure of the Commander-in-Chief surfaced in the media.

FT sources also claim that a decision to dismiss Zaluzhny has already been made in Zelensky’s Office, which the President communicated to the Chief of the General Staff during their meeting on Monday. It remains unclear when exactly Zaluzhny is supposed to be dismissed and who will replace him, according to the authors. Among the possible candidates for the position of the Chief of the General Staff, the commanders of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, and the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, are being considered. Both are close to Zelensky, the authors note.

They also write that the relationship between Zelensky and Zaluzhny remains tense, and in November of last year, journalists actively began reporting on their disagreements. According to the publication, the dismissal of Zaluzhny will cause outrage among Ukrainian officers and in civil society. FT quotes military historian Mikhail Zhirokhov, who states that such a move “will have an extremely negative impact on the army.”