TETYANA OLIYNYK — FRIDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2024, 23:43
VALERII ZALUZHNYI, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE, AT A BRIEFING ON 26 DECEMBER. PHOTO: DMYTRO LARIN, UKRAINSKA PRAVDA
The Washington Post reports that according to a senior Ministry of Defence official, Kyiv has yet to select a replacement for Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Source: The Washington Post
Details: The publication notes that the replacement for Zaluzhnyi is still being chosen, and the delay causes confusion.
Quote: “The delay suggested indecision among the President, Chief of Administration Andriy Yermak and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, or even disarray, with potential replacements perhaps unwilling to take the job given the slim prospects of improving Ukraine’s battlefield situation any time soon.”
Details: Furthermore, according to one of the sources, “Zelenskyy apparently wants to place Zaluzhnyi in a new position, perhaps in hopes of tempering public disapproval over the removal.” He was offered the position of ambassador, but Zaluzhnyi is unable to resign from the Ukrainian Armed Forces while the country is under martial law.
The publication also notes that the tension in relations between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy has increased due to disagreements on mobilisation.
One Ukrainian official told The Washington Post that, while Zaluzhnyi’s deputy may be one of the young officers who demonstrated their effectiveness on the battlefield, they may lack managerial experience. On the other hand, appointing an experienced Commander-in-Chief may bring a “old-school mentality” to the position. The candidates include Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, and Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ground Forces.
Looks like a decision has been made but is not yet irreversible.
The Zel-Zal spat is nothing new in a democracy. Churchill also had:
“an uneasy relationship with his generals, which stemmed, in large part, from his willingness to pick commanders who disagreed with him—and who often did so violently.”
Field Marshal Bernard “Monty” Montgomery had a prickly relationship with Churchill but was loved by his men.
Classy politicians like Petro Poroshenko refrain from public criticism of the president during war time. Soon, God willing, putler’s nazi gutter filth will be extirpated and Poro might well want to chuck his hat into the ring for the top job. Mayor Klitschko has been a lot less classy; always sniping from the sidelines and that will count against him.
I hope that Zal won’t be sacked, but if he is, I hope he will keep his powder dry until the Putler holocaust is over and he commences his political career.
“potential replacements perhaps unwilling to take the job given the slim prospects of improving Ukraine’s battlefield situation any time soon”
Nobody can keep up the defence without reinforcements. This looks like the most wrongheaded decision by Zelensky in the whole war. Apparently, his main motivation for replacing Zaluzhny is to avoid mobilizing new recruits on a large scale, but that simply isn’t possible. No replacement will be able to do miracles without enough soldiers. Instead of blaming his military leadership for pointing out inconvenient facts, he should accept reality and get the conscription done. It’s high time and there’s no way to avoid it.
If Zelensky takes a close look at the moods of the people and the military about this, he will refrain from taking this semi-suicidal step.
Let’s hope so, Mr. Ofp. I understand Zelensky is under a lot of preasure, more than any human being should have to endure for a long time, and that he doesn’t want to force people into military service, but replacing Zaluzhny won’t solve this problem. There’s simply no way to keep up the defence without strong reinforcements, and to appoint a yes-man who pretends otherwise would lead to losing the war. That can’t be allowed to happen, it would be better if Zelensky resigned if he can’t shoulder the burden of unpopular decisions.
My thoughts exactly, Mr. Gray.
Either Zelensky still has a clear perspective of what is the best for the army and for the country and has a clear enough mind to make the right decisions, or clears the way for someone else who does.
In light of the tremendous pressure he has been under, not only from the war and mafia land, but the military aspects, the domestic ones, and not least, the constant begging and sweet-talking Ukraine’s allies to do the right thing, no one could blame him for wanting to step down. Maybe he should take a couple of days off to recuperate a little.