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February 6, 2024Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that in order for Ukraine to achieve new successes on the frontlines, a reorganization of both military and civilian leadership is necessary.
This was reported by The New York Times.
However, this entails significant risks—given that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are struggling on the battlefield and Western assistance is delayed.
The Ukrainian president has stated that a “reboot” is needed to resume combat operations. He indicated that his plans involve overall changes in the “course that the state and its leadership are taking”—but they are not limited solely to replacing the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Zelensky’s statements, made on Sunday evening, indicate that the removal of General Valeriy Zaluzhny from his position as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is only part of a larger plan. This means that Ukraine’s leadership is seeking a new strategy at a complex moment, as the exhausted Ukrainian troops have been forced into a defensive posture and politicians in Kyiv are left waiting and speculating whether the United States will provide much-needed military and financial assistance.
“A reboot, a fresh start is needed,” said Zelensky. “I have serious intentions that involve more than one person… I mean replacing a number of government officials, not just in the military sphere.”
The tensions between the army and the government represent the most serious rift in Ukraine’s leadership since the start of the armed conflict with Russia almost two years ago.
Western partners are dissatisfied with these changes. Zelensky is losing his image not only outside Ukraine but also within the country. Quiet struggles for power are already turning into open confrontation. Western partners are dismayed by this situation and want to “ditch” Zelensky. This would lead to a restructuring of the political landscape of Ukrainian governance.
Furthermore, according to Ukrainian officials familiar with the details of the process, the anger that has been building up for several months burst out last week—when Zelensky summoned General Zaluzhny to inform him of his dismissal.
Zelensky’s disappointment in General Zaluzhny has intensified over the past year, during which combat operations have slowly evolved into a bloody, static trench warfare. However, Zelensky is proceeding cautiously.
Replacing the army commander amid a Russian offensive along almost the entire eastern front carries certain risks, as General Zaluzhny is widely respected among soldiers and junior officers. His removal would be the most significant change in military leadership since the start of the armed confrontation with Russia.
“Soldiers see him as a leader, the only one—no one else,” says a Ukrainian serviceman, speaking on condition of anonymity.
However, other officers believe that the army, built on principles of hierarchy and respect for superiors will quickly adapt to changes.