Zelensky fires Ukraine military chief in major shakeup after nearly two years of war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a significant military shake-up with the announcement of the dismissal of Ukraine’s top commander, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. This move comes after tensions between Zelensky and the popular military chief following Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive and renewed Russian attacks. The dismissal marks the largest military shake-up since the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia almost two years ago.
In a Telegram post, Zelensky stated that the dismissal comes at a time when the Armed Forces of Ukraine need renewal. Zaluzhnyi’s replacement will be Oleksandr Syrskyi, who has served as the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces since 2019.
The differences between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi had been simmering for many months, but tensions widened late last year after Zaluzhnyi said the war had reached a stalemate in an interview with The Economist magazine. His comments sparked immediate criticism from Zelensky’s office, which believed that such comments only benefited Russia.
With Ukraine facing renewed Russian attacks, manpower and ammunition shortages, as well as stalled U.S. aid in congress, the shake-up of military leadership comes at a crucial time. Zaluzhnyi’s statement on his Telegram channel reinforced the need for changes in approaches and strategies in light of the evolving realities of the war.