The anxiety at the highest levels of Ukraine's wartime government was revealed after rumors swept Kiev on Monday that President Volodymyr Zelensky was about to sack the head of his armed forces, General Valery Zalozhny, after weeks of reported tensions. The ouster of one of Ukraine's most popular figures would be highly controversial and would represent a pivotal moment in Ukraine's conflict with Russia. So far, Zelensky has not announced the general's replacement. But that doesn't mean Zalozny's job is safe. It may simply be because his replacement has not yet been appointed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's ouster of one of Ukraine's most popular figures would be highly controversial.credit: Nathan Perry
This was not the first time that a plan to dismiss the general was discussed, but it was the most convincing. The dramatic day began with leaks from MPs, who were informed, perhaps strategically, of a “package of documents” sent to a security committee for signature. Later, sources in the General Staff close to Zalozny confirmed that a change was being worked on. The Economist newspaper was able to confirm that a meeting was held early in the evening in which the president informed his general that he had decided to dismiss him. Zalozny was offered another role: Secretary of the National Security Council. He rejected her.
News of the plan quickly leaked to local media. The Ministry of Defense and the Presidential Palace denied the general's dismissal, which is technically true. But the problems—the dysfunctional relationship between the president and his general, and suspicions in the president's office that the general harbors political ambitions—have not gone away. The two men appear to have been hurt by the dispute, and the differences between Ukraine's political leadership and its military leadership are worrying Ukraine's main allies.
Two generals are being mentioned as contenders for Zaluzny's position: Oleksandr Sirsky, 58; And Kirilo Budanov (38 years old). Both are considered close to the presidential team. Syrsky, one of the military's most experienced officers, was the operational mind behind two of Ukraine's most notable victories against Russia in 2022: around Kiev and in the Kharkiv region. But his harsh style of fighting made him unpopular in parts of the army. Last year, he sacrificed battle-hardened commanders in a futile defense of the small town of Bakhmut.
It appears that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zalozny, is out of a job.credit: AP
Budanov, the mysterious and ambitious head of Ukraine's military intelligence, takes an unconventional and untested approach to leadership. He has never commanded a conventional armed force before – or an organization on the scale of the Ukrainian army, which now employs nearly a million people. Some indicated that he rejected the mission at the last minute. A close colleague insists that Budanov was not inclined to favor Zalozhny's position, but he had no right to refuse a military post. “You're not the one making these decisions,” the colleague adds.
The rumors come at a critical time. Ukraine's summer counteroffensive failed, and Ukraine faces uncertainty about how much foreign support it can expect. The battle over Zalozny's future is unlikely to increase the prospects for renewed funding, as the commander is highly regarded in the West. Ukrainian forces on the front line are already complaining of ammunition shortages. Russian units are firing at least five times as many shells as their enemy, and are making modest gains on the ground in the east of the country.
Russian propagandists happily poured scorn on Ukraine. “Whether Zalozny is fired or not, and whether he is replaced by Budanov or Modanov, the chaos on their farm is beneficial. It looks good,” wrote Margarita Simonyan, the company’s president. Russia TodayThe Kremlin's mouthpiece, on her Telegram channel.
The defense of Kiev and northeastern Ukraine at the beginning of the war made Zalozhny a cult figure. Polls have repeatedly shown that he is more popular than his boss. This created tension between the two men, who initially had good relations. In particular, some considered the general's endorsement of a charitable foundation established in his name in April 2022 to be too political. Zalozny claimed he had no political ambitions, but parted ways with several advisers in the wake of the scandal.
