The President of Ukraine, Volodomyr Zelensky, has decided to dismiss the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Zaluzhnyi held the post since 2021, and led the Armed Forces of Ukraine at their most difficult time, during two years of Russian occupation.
He has often been described as more popular than Zelensky himself, while the relationship between them appears to have cooled in recent months, when the counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces failed to produce the expected results.
"I met with General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. I thanked him for two years of protecting Ukraine. We discussed the renewal required by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
We also discussed who could be part of the renewed leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The time for such a renewal is now. I proposed to General Zaluzhnyi to remain part of the team. We will definitely win! Glory to Ukraine", writes Zelensku in a post on the "X" social network.
I met with General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 8, 2024
I thanked him for the two years of defending Ukraine.
We discussed the renewal that the Armed Forces of Ukraine require.
We also discussed who could be part of the renewed leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The time for such a renewal... pic.twitter.com/tMnUEZ3BCX