The issue of Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny's departure has become a TV drama, and has been hyped up over and over again. At the very least, it shows that it is an indisputable fact that the internal strife among Ukraine's top leaders has intensified.
The latest report from the British "Financial Times" on the 30th, sources confirmed that on Monday the president asked the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to resign and proposed a new position, but the general refused.
Considering that the media fermentation is too fast, Zelensky temporarily allows Zaluzhny to stay in his post, but he will eventually be relieved of his duties.
’s previous news was confirmed by four major figures, and there were authoritative media reports. There is actually no doubt about the authenticity of the incident.
The problem is that the trend of media public opinion and the attitude of the United States make it impossible for the puppet president to make the decision himself.
According to reports, Ukrainian President Zelensky is preparing to replace his top generals. This will be the largest reorganization of Ukraine's military command in the two years of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelensky offered a new position as a defense adviser to Armed Forces Chief Valery Zaluzhny on Monday, but the general declined, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Two of them said that Zelensky had made it clear to Zaluzhny that he would be relieved of his current position regardless of whether he took over the position.
The four said that while Zelensky's office had decided to fire Zaluzhny, he may not be ousted for some time after Ukrainian media reported the plan.
The president offered the general a new position after months of speculation about his fate, fueled by reports of tension between the two men.
Tensions between the two countries became public last November after Ukraine's much-hyped counteroffensive failed to achieve its ambitious goal of retaking lost territory and cutting off Russia's land bridge to Crimea.
At the time, Zaluzhny said the war had reached a "stalemate" and the presidential office severely criticized him for using the word.
On Monday, Zelensky's spokesman Sergei Nikiforov and the Defense Ministry denied reports that Zaluzhny had been dismissed.
Zaluzhny's ouster will also cause an uproar among Ukraine's rank-and-file military and civil society, where he enjoyed huge support.
In a Ukrainian poll released in December, 88% of Ukrainians said they trusted Zaluzhny, while only 62% said they trusted Zelensky.
Ukrainian military historian Mykhailo Zhyrokhov told Kyiv Radio: "This will have a very, very negative impact on the [morale] of the army." He added that he believed the rumors were "Fabricated".
Replacing Zaluzhny could also unsettle Ukraine's Western partners, including military officials who have worked closely with the general over the past two years on battlefield strategy.
The war is coming to a head, with Kiev waiting to see whether it can receive billions of dollars worth of military and financial aid from the United States and the European Union.
Zaluzhne has yet to comment on reports of his dismissal.
However, on Monday, he posted a selfie on Facebook with Chief of General Staff Serhiy Shaptala, both wearing Ukrainian Army sweatshirts.
Reports that Zaluzhny was about to be ousted began circulating in local media and anonymous local Telegram channels on Monday night.
According to four people familiar with the matter, it is still unclear who will succeed Zaluzhny as commander-in-chief.
Possible candidates are Alexander Syrsky, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, and Kyrylo Budanov, head of the country's military intelligence service. Both men have close ties to Zelensky.
Ukrainian news outlet Mirror Weekly also reported discussions surrounding Zaluzhny's potential dismissal, citing sources in Zelensky's office. Several other media outlets, citing people familiar with the matter, said Zaluzhny had been fired or was about to be fired.
Zaluzhny, 50, a four-star career soldier known to his admirers as the "Iron General", was appointed commander-in-chief by Zelensky in July 2021.He has been responsible for overseeing Ukrainian military operations since the Russo-Ukrainian war.
He is credited with orchestrating many of Ukraine's military victories, including the defense of Kiev in the first days and counteroffensives in the fall of 2022 in the eastern Kharkiv region and the southern regional capital of Kherson.
Zelensky reportedly tried to keep Zaluzhny, whom he viewed as a potential rival, out of the public eye and bypassed him to deliver orders to the general's subordinates at critical moments in the war.
