The conflict between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi is intensifying

Neither of the nation’s leaders is eager to take full responsibility for the most unpopular decision — the draft law on mobilization and the announced plans to mobilize 500,000 individuals.

FT highlights that neither side seems willing to bear the full weight of calling up possibly unwilling Ukrainians to serve in a demanding and harsh conflict. Zelensky sought to shift the responsibility for this decision to the General Staff, but Zaluzhnyi avoided taking it upon himself. For the first time since February 2022, Zaluzhnyi held a press conference, emphasizing that the army should focus on fighting, not intervening in civilian life.

In Kyiv, preparing individuals for military service has become a contentious issue, with political leaders and high-ranking military officials avoiding direct responsibility. A mass mobilization for a war of attrition always presents significant challenges. Zelensky’s attempt to share the weight of the new recruitment campaign with the top military command implies that 2024 will be increasingly difficult both domestically and on the battlefield, according to FT’s analysis.