Ukraine: Zelenskyy’s decision to replace military chief will hurt morale of troops and unsettle Western allies
The removal of Ukraine’s top general is a huge gamble by Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a time when the war risks tipping in Russia’s favour.
The Ukrainian president has tried to paint his reshuffle as a much-needed moment of renewal for the next phase of the campaign.
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But the switching out of General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi – a national hero – will doubtless hurt morale among troops, unsettle Western allies and be seen by Moscow as a sign of instability.
Mr Zelenskyy was quick to announce that Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, an older and even more battle-hardened officer, will take over as head of the armed forces. He also made sure to thank his outgoing military chief and offer him to stay on as part of his “top team”.
In turn, General Zaluzhnyi expressed his gratitude to everyone who had worked with him, including the president, and agreed on the need to “change and adapt to the new realities… in order to win together”.
But, despite the display of camaraderie, this is not a parting of close friends and the stepping down of an incredibly popular military leader will leave very large boots to fill.
There has long been friction behind the scenes between President Zelenskyy and General Zaluzhnyi and their respective aides over not just battleplans but also – allegedly – politics.
It finally erupted into the open a few days ago, with reports that the commander-in-chief was about to be sacked.
The claims were initially denied but even the public suggestion of tension between the two most important men leading Ukraine’s war effort was enough to be destabilising at a time when Russian forces are launching new attacks and Western support is waning.
The turbulence meant the announcement of a change was inevitable. The only question was when it would happen and who would replace General Zaluzhnyi.
With that uncertainty now gone, the key for the president and his new military chief will be to demonstrate that this move was right for Ukraine.
It is not going to be an easy task as Ukrainian insiders and defence experts worry that the move is damaging. It’s a “disaster”, said one ally of General Zaluzhnyi’s.
A Western source said, while unfortunate, at least the speculation about who would lead the military could stop.
“There will be a new team which will have to bed down now so there will still be a pause but at least we can move forward,” the source said.
Perhaps in a bid to shore up confidence in his decision, Mr Zelenskyy made a point of emphasising the importance of a united vision among military leaders in a less-than-veiled criticism of the disagreements he is reported to have had with General Zaluzhnyi.
“Starting today, a new management team takes over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the president said in his statement on Thursday.
“I want our warriors in Robotyne or Avdiivka, the General Staff and the Staff to have the same vision of the war.”
The president also highlighted General Syrskyi’s frontline experience, but by doing so he appeared to be downplaying that of his predecessor’s.
Mr Zelenskyy described his incoming chief as “the most experienced Ukrainian commander, the battlefield commander”, praising his role leading the defence of Kyiv in the initial days of the war and his leadership in a counteroffensive in the summer of 2022 that recaptured huge swathes of territory across the northeast of the country.
Rivals or friends, all Ukrainians know they need to work together to combat Russia and to convince their Western allies – in particular the United States – to continue to arm them.
It’s a unity of purpose that Ukraine’s new military chief will be seeking to count on as he steps up to lead the military in what will be increasingly tough battles ahead.