Oleg Davygora22:21, 02.02.24
The departure of General Valery Zaluzhny may become the first significant personnel change during the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The Ukrainian authorities informed the US administration of the decision to dismiss the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny , writes The Washington Post.
Representatives of the White House did not support or object to the planned removal of General Valery Zaluzhny from office, saying that this is the sovereign choice of President Vladimir Zelensky.
“Zelensky has not yet issued a formal decree announcing Zaluzhny’s resignation, and it is unknown when this might happen. The advance notice to Washington, which has not previously been reported, reflects the influential role of the United States as Ukraine’s most powerful military and political backer. The early warning also gave Bely home the opportunity to convince Zelensky to reconsider a key decision, even though he decided not to do so,” the article says.
As the publication notes, the departure of Zaluzhny, one of the most popular figures in society, could affect the morale of the troops and undermine the trust of Western donors. But any US move to challenge Zelensky’s decision could be considered as exerting undue influence.
Steven Pifer, an Eastern Europe expert at Stanford University and a former US ambassador to Ukraine, said: “The perception of division at the very top in Kyiv is not good for Ukraine, but the American government should not get involved in it.”
“The president has the right to choose the cabinet as he sees fit. The decision must be unanimous with Zelensky, as well as the possible consequences,” added Alina Polyakova, president of the Center for European Policy Analysis.
Zelensky could postpone the decision indefinitely, but this is unlikely, people familiar with his thinking say, TWP notes.
“Distrust between Zelensky and Zaluzhny grew due to suspicions about the general’s political ambitions, as well as disagreements over key issues, including the mobilization of 500,000 troops. During a tense meeting on Monday, Zaluzhny argued that recruits are necessary for success on the battlefield before “face the enemy’s superior firepower and numbers. Ukraine also needs to prepare for personnel losses that are expected to be comparable to last year’s, he said,” the article noted.
The publication clarifies that Zelensky refused Zaluzhny’s call to mobilize 500 thousand people, because this step would be extremely unpopular and because Ukraine does not have the money to pay salaries and other payments to so many military personnel without a significant increase in taxes.
“The President does not believe that this mass mobilization of men aged 18 to 27 is desirable or justified at this stage,” the publication quotes a person close to Zelensky.
Finding a replacement for Zaluzhny is a serious task, the newspaper notes. One of the potential candidates is the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Lieutenant General Kirill Budanov. He has experience in special forces, but not as an army commander. His appointment could potentially signal a shift to asymmetric tactics, such as drone strikes deep into Russian territory.
But it’s unclear whether he wants the job, a person familiar with the situation said: “He loves his job and might want to keep blowing stuff up in Russia.”
Another option is Alexander Syrsky, the current commander of the Ground Forces. The man is credited with leading the defense of Kyiv in the first month of the war, and then organizing a successful counter-offensive in the northeast of the Kharkov region in the fall of 2022.
(C)UNIAN 2024
Zelensky is starting to head down a very stony path. This will not end well, neither for him nor for the country.
Imho “the influential role of the United States as Ukraine’s most powerful military and political backer” should end soon if the arms deliveries aren’t continued. No pay, no say!
That’s right.
Like you said yesterday, unity is one of the most important traits of our leaders. Especially when things aren’t going so well. I’ve seen it in business, sports and politics; everyone wants to kill each other.
I think that Zelensky might be lacking sound judgement and is causing a rift with his stubbornness. Maybe it’s the burden, maybe it’s the lack of rest, maybe it’s the limelight he’s been bathing in, maybe all of the above.
I think he never had sound judgement.
He has always been firing his best men.
I mostly try to back Zelensky because that is needed during wartime, but he is making this a tough job.
Zaluzhny is a brilliant General and he is the last one that should go.
When the war is over, I hope Ukrainians will choose a new guy.
One that can distinguish bullshit from reality.
I think most military mistakes where made by Zelensky himself, not by Zaluzhny.
There was no reason for Ukraine to lose Kherson and the Zaporizhia region if Zelensky had adequately prepared and bridges had been destroyed in the South and minefields were to be laid.
Also, I don’t think Zaluzhny was too happy with the carnage in Bakhmut, which was mostly in vain.
I wished the West would have talked some sense in him: “If you want our support, you better not fire your most competent man. You just listen and do what he says”.
^bert
To be honest, Bert, all of us are too poorly informed to make any sort of sound judgements over anyone in the Ukrainian civilian and military hierarchy. The only thing that I personally can say with any sort of confidence is that both have made grave mistakes bringing their bickering out into the open. It’s perfectly okay to do something like this when there’s peace, but never when there’s a war. In addition, my opinion that it’s a mistake to fire a general like Zaluzhny is mainly based on the fact that he enjoys such popularity with the Ukrainian soldiers. They are the best judges to attest to his abilities as a military leader.
That’s my humble opinion over all of this.
I never trusted the tv clown. My prayers are with our ukrainian soldiers and innocent ruSSian recruits alike.