KIEV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi dismissed the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces Valery Zaluzhny.
It follows speculation of a rift between the president and General Zaluzhny, who has led Ukraine’s war effort since the beginning of the conflict.
Battle-hardened General Oleksandr Syrskyi was announced as his successor in a presidential decree.
This is the biggest change in Ukraine’s military leadership since the full Russian invasion in February 2022.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the high command needed to be “restored” and that General Zaluzhny could “remain in the team”.
“Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he said on Thursday.
Gen Zaluzhnyi is a popular general, trusted by Ukrainian soldiers and the public, and was something of a national hero.
His recent approval ratings were higher than Mr. Zelensky’s.
The president said he and General Zaluzhnyi had a “frank conversation” about the changes needed in the military and that he thanked the general for defending Ukraine against Russia.
The new head of the army, General Syrskyi, has experience in both defensive and offensive warfare, Zelenskyi said.
He led the defense of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, at the start of Russia’s full invasion in 2022.
In the summer, he directed Ukraine’s surprise and successful counterattack in Kharkiv, and since then he serves as commander of military operations in eastern Ukraine – one of the two main axes of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
