The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has assured that the staff of the entire administrative apparatus of the country needs to be renewed when the Ukrainians have been defending themselves against Russian troops for almost two years. This reconfiguration would also affect the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valery Zalujni, as he said in an interview with Italian RAI television, confirming rumors and press leaks that have been circulating for weeks.
It is the first time that the Ukrainian president has acknowledged that he is thinking of replacing the head of the army, with whom he publicly disagreed in the autumn on the conduct of the war. Among other things, Zalujni told The Economist that the fighting at the front had reached a stalemate. The president publicly showed his disagreement with this assessment, which he indirectly described as defeatist. Then they also clashed over the possible mobilization of new soldiers.
Then came rumors and news about Zalujni’s departure from the military leadership. These news were accompanied by the military’s supposed political aspirations, although he had not spoken publicly about them.
Polls at the end of last year indicated that the commander-in-chief of the armed forces was trusted by 88% of Ukrainians, far more than Zelenskiy, whose popularity stood at 62%. So the military began to appear to him as a future and serious political rival. The admiration of the Ukrainians is due, among other things, to the success in the defense of Kyiv against the Russian advance in 2022 and the recovery, also in that year, of large areas of territory in Kharkiv (north-east) and Kherson (south).
“It is a question that has to do with the people who have to guide Ukraine. Surely a reconfiguration is needed, and when we talk about this I mean a replacement of a series of leaders of the State, not only of a sector like the military”, said Zelenski on Sunday in the news of the public chain Italian RAI when asked about the general’s future. “I am thinking about this replacement (of Zalujni). It’s true,” he admitted.
Speculation about Zalujni’s removal intensified last week. Some Ukrainian Telegram channels claimed that his departure was imminent. Interfax-Ukraine and Tsensor.net wrote that there would be an agreed resignation with Zelenski. But both the Ministry of Defense and the president’s office denied it.
According to The Washington Post, that day there was a tense conversation between the two, during which it became clear that they were divided on several issues, including calling the population to a new military mobilization. Zalujni believes additional recruitment is needed, arguing for increased firepower and troops by Russia. Zelensky is not in favor of it.
Several international media were betting that Zalujni would be replaced last weekend. And CNN highlighted two possible replacements: Kiril Budànov, head of military intelligence; or Oleksandr Sirski, head of the Land Army.
Valery Zalujni, 50, has been at the head of Ukraine’s armed forces since 2021. Among the Ukrainians who admire him would be the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko. Yesterday he came out in his support, and took the opportunity to throw a hint against Zelenski. In a message published on his Telegram channel, he stated that thanks to Zalujni, Ukrainians believed in their armed forces. But, unfortunately, today is the moment when politics can prevail over common sense and the interests of the State. And this moment does not depend on Zalujni”, he wrote.
The former professional boxer has openly criticized the president in the past. From his office, for his part, he has been accused of inefficiency in the management of the capital. Klitschko added that he hopes that the Ukrainian Government understands the extent of its responsibility, since “today it is necessary to fight for only one thing: the victory of Ukraine”.
