https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/9406
I am grateful to General Zaluzhny for two years of defense. I am grateful for every victory that we achieved together and thanks to all Ukrainian soldiers who heroically carry this war on themselves. We talked frankly today about what needs to change in the army. Urgent changes. I offered General Zaluzhny to continue to be together in the team of the Ukrainian state. I will be grateful for his consent.
From today, a new management team is joining the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I want the vision of war to be the same in our soldiers in Robotino or Avdiivka, and in the General Staff and the Headquarters. I had dozens of conversations with commanders of different levels. In particular, today I spoke with brigade generals Andriy Gnatov, Mykhailo Drapaty, Igor Skybyuk and colonels Pavlo Palisa and Vadym Sukharevsky.
They are all considered for leadership positions in the army and will serve under the guidance of the most experienced Ukrainian commander. He has a successful experience of defense - he conducted the Kyiv defensive operation. He also has a successful experience of advance - the Kharkiv liberation operation.
I appointed Lieutenant General Syrsky as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Today I also spoke with generals Moysyuk and Zabrodsky. Their experience is in the service of the state.
2024 can be a successful year for Ukraine only on condition of effective changes in the basis of our defense, which is the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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I think this is a mistake. Zaluzhny is widely popular with the public and this may hurt confidence in the government.
In situations like this, I think it would be better to agree to disagree on differences but keep a united front. This just gives ammo for Russia to exploit and drive a wedge in society.
I don't know much about domestic politics in Ukraine. Michael Kofman was critical of the move. But end of the day, it was Zelenskyy's call to make, we do not have full vision into the inputs to the decision, and while I don't know anything about Syrsky, I do not believe that Zaluzhnyi is the only competent military leader in Ukraine.
And Zelenskyy's fate is on the line on putting someone competent in the spot at least as much as anyone else's, so whatever the disagreement between Zaluzhnyi and him, I think that he has a strong incentive to make sure that whoever does occupy the office is competent.
Complaining about a decision that has been made is the wedge. History will judge if it was the right decision, and internet randoms will not be consulted.
It could be, but he is as much a political player as he is a military one. And if in the past 2 years his effectiveness on the political stage has been eroded then it might indeed be a good move to replace him.
Not because he is a bad soldier, but because someone else in that position might be better suited now. Because politics.
No doubt Russia will spin this as zelenski removing a potential political rival before he gets too big.
They can spin all they want, but Zelensky actually didn't make his next presidential bid any easier - quite the contrary, because he's now completely free to run against Zelensky.
https://youtu.be/OehvY94N-WA?si=hO5NxroniyNR2naw
I don't think Zaluzhny knows or wants to fight a mobile war which is what Ukraine needs to do with less man power.