Zelensky risks making mistakes: How did the world media react to Zaluzhny’s dismissal?

The dismissal of Valery Zaluzhny is a new and decisive stage in the war. This is exactly how some Western media described the Ukrainian general’s resignation yesterday. Focus It drew global media outrage over one of the most notable layoffs in the two years since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Unfortunately, President Zelensky is at risk of making mistakes, according to The Economist.

The differences between the actor-turned-politician and the battle-hardened commander were partly down to culture and personality. Analysts say that after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, these differences became irrelevant and even became an advantage.

One risk for the president is that the dismissal of a popular commander would spark anger from the military. General Syrsky had a reputation as a man ready to engage the enemy, even if the cost of men and equipment was high. Some officers praise him for his professionalism, while others say he intimidates his subordinates. Less likely to question the president’s priorities. When he takes over the top job, he will need to tone down his command style and learn to speak truth to power.

The Economist also points out the political consequences of Zelensky’s decision: “Those who know the general do not see him as a natural politician, but he will not be the first veteran to seize the opportunity to gain power.”

Reuters writes that Ukraine replaced the commander-in-chief of the army during a difficult war with Russia. This comes after months of rumors about differences between President Zelensky and General Valeriy Zaluzhny, whom many Ukrainians consider a national hero.

The authors of the material describe the change of military leadership at the end of the second year of the war, at a time when Russian forces were gaining an advantage, as a “big risk”. According to them, Zaluzhny’s dismissal could deal a blow to the morale of the troops on the 1000-kilometer front. This could also have negative political consequences, which would lower Zelensky’s ratings. Reuters reminds that according to recent polls, Ukrainians’ trust in Zaluzhny is over 90%, which is significantly higher than trust in Zelensky (77%).

Politico writes that President Volodymyr Zelensky removed General Valeriy Zaluzhny from his post as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, putting an end to the tension that had been rising between the leaders for months. The commander-in-chief was also alleged to have strained relations with Washington after he and US military leaders disagreed on how to conduct a counter-offensive in the summer of 2023.

Politico journalists focus on Zaluzhny’s decisive role in the early days of the full-scale invasion, when a major offensive by Russian troops on Kiev was repelled. The general stalled Moscow’s forces until Western aid began flowing into Ukraine. Then, at the end of 2022, Zaluzhny led Ukrainian troops in a striking counteroffensive, which resulted in the recapture of key territories.

According to Austrian military analyst Tom Cooper, Zaluzhny has faced criticism for not completing the transformation of the Ukrainian army into a Western-style force, failing to improve logistics and rotating troops.

Some observers suggest that Zelensky’s decision was motivated, at least in part, by concerns that Zaluzhny could be his potential political rival in the future. The Guardian writes that internal debates and internal struggles are slowly returning to Ukraine after a period of national unity following the large-scale occupation of the Russian Federation.

Sources say Zaluzhny rarely makes public statements or interviews, but when he does he often disturbs the Presidential Office. Although the now former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has never declared political ambitions, many of Zelensky’s opponents see him as a potential figure around whom they can unite and believe he has a political future if he so chooses. . If the situation at the front worsens, Zaluzhny’s rating will most likely increase.

The Washington Post lists several reasons for Zaluzhny’s dismissal. These include last year’s counteroffensive, which also failed and did not yield significant territorial gains; There are disagreements between Zelensky and Zaluzhny over the number of military personnel that Ukraine should mobilize this year. Zelensky also saw Zaluzhny as a possible political rival and threat due to his high popularity ratings.

The decision to appoint the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky as commander-in-chief will cause negative reactions. The Washington Post writes that Syrsky was unpopular among ordinary military personnel and was considered a Soviet-style commander who kept troops under fire for too long in the eastern city of Bakhmut, which eventually fell under Russian control. The authors of the document recall that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers died and many more were injured while defending the city of limited strategic importance.

Zelensky said he wanted Zaluzhny to stay “in the team of the future Ukrainian state.” The 50-year-old general has been offered the post of Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, sources told the Washington Post. But he refused because it was a civilian position. Zaluzhny cannot resign from military service while martial law is in effect in Ukraine.

The Pentagon has already responded to the dismissal of Valery Zaluzhny. Deputy Defense Minister Celeste Wallander confirmed that the United States will cooperate with the new commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to him, President Vladimir Zelensky “has democratic civilian control over the army” and thus can make personnel changes in the military command.

Let us remind you that on February 8, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zaluzhny. Alexander Syrsky became the new commander-in-chief. The head of state expressed his vision for change in the Defense Forces. Zelensky also gave the names of three generals (Andrei Gnatov, Mikhail Drapaty, Igor Skibyuk) and two colonels (Pavel Palisa and Vadim Sukharevsky), with whom he discussed working in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Separately, I remembered generals Moisyuk and Zabrodsky – planning to use their experience “in the service of the state.”