Ukraine: Army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi faraway from put up
Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi has been faraway from his place, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated Thursday.
Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he had appointed Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s floor forces, to steer the military.
“Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy stated. “I appointed Colonel-General Syrsky as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
What did Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi say?
Since late final 12 months, there have been rising reviews of a battle between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy. According to media reviews, the Ukrainian president had deliberate to switch the final as early as final week, however was initially unable to push by means of the transfer.
On Thursday, nevertheless, Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi launched their statements on the navy management change inside moments of one another on social media, suggesting that Ukraine’s two most distinguished wartime figures had carefully coordinated to placed on a present of unity.
Zelenskyy wrote he met with Zaluzhnyi and informed him it is time for somebody new to steer the military.
“We discussed what renewal the Armed Forces of Ukraine need. We also discussed who could be in the renewed leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The time for this renewal is now,” he stated.
He had additionally requested the final to stay “part of the team,” Zelenskyy added.
In his personal assertion, Zaluzhnyi stated he had had an “important and serious conversation” with Zelenskyy and {that a} resolution had been made to alter battlefield techniques and technique.
“The tasks of 2022 are different from the tasks of 2024. Therefore, everyone must change and adapt to new realities as well. To win together too,” his assertion stated.
After the announcement, the US stated it could work successfully with Syrskyi.
Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of protection for worldwide safety affairs on the Pentagon, stated the final is an “an experienced, successful commander.”
Who is General Valerii Zaluzhnyi?
General Zaluzhnyi, 50, was appointed commander-in-chief only a few months earlier than Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Having overseen the profitable protection of Kyiv within the opening weeks and the recapture of some occupied territory in northern and southern Ukraine, Zaluzhnyi is a well-liked determine who has been rumored to have political ambitions — which he denies.
But relations between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy have been thought of strained for the reason that failure of Ukraine’s 2023 counter-offensive.
rmt,dh/wd (Reuters, AFP)
