Ukraine’s Zelenskyy fires popular top general Zaluzhny

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday replaced his top general in what is perhaps the biggest military shakeup in the country since Vladimir Putin sent Russian tanks rolling across the border two years ago.

The move comes as Ukraine is struggling to replenish its ammunitions and the U.S. Congress has struggled amid partisan fighting to approve new funding for Ukraine’s defense.

Zelenskyy made the announcement on his official Telegram social media channel.

The removal of Gen. Valery Zaluzhny follows weeks of speculation that Zaluzhny, who is highly popular with Ukraine’s public, and Zelenskyy had disagreed over war strategy. There have also been rumblings that Zelenskyy was dissatisfied with Zaluzhny’s apparent political ambitions.

Zaluzhny was replaced by a senior ground forces commander named Oleksandr Syrsky.

Zelenskyy fired his defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, last September, citing the need for “new approaches” to the war after what was then more than 18 months of the conflict. Zelenskyy has also fired a slew of senior officials over scandals linked to the procurement of wartime supplies.

Syrsky is credited with helping to prevent Russian troops from taking over Ukraine’s capital Kyiv in the initial days of Moscow’s invasion. In April 2022, Zelenskyy praised Syrsky’s “personal courage” and “significant contribution to the defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

In a poll published in December, 92% of Ukrainians said Zaluzhny was the country’s most trusted military leader. Some reports have suggested that Syrsky’s appointment will be unpopular with Ukraine’s rank-andfile troops. Among the criticisms of him is the claim that he is too willing to sacrifice lives on the front lines.

Zelenskyy said he asked Zaluzhny to remain as part “of the team of the Ukrainian state of the future,” but it was unclear what specific role, if any, he would have.

In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said “we’re not concerned about Ukraine stability” as a result of the move.