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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Ukraine's 'Iron General' army chief is axed and replaced by ground forces commander after Zelensky admitted war had reached 'stalemate'
2024-02-09
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] 'Iron General' Valery Zaluzhny has been removed as the head of Ukraine's armed forces, the nation's defence minister declared, after weeks of rumours that President Volodymyr Zelensky was planning a major shakeup of top military brass.

Rustem Umerov confirmed the decision was taken on today to change the military leadership as Zelensky aims to keep a steady stream of military aid flowing in from Western partners.

'The war does not remain the same. War changes and demands change. New approaches and new strategies are needed... I am sincerely grateful to Valery Fedorovych (Zaluzhny) for all his achievements and victories,' Umerov said in a statement.

Zaluzhny, who has led Kyiv's forces throughout Russia's invasion and is known as the 'Iron General', is said to have fallen out with Zelensky over differing opinions on how to boost numbers in the army, which is struggling to fill its ranks.

Zelensky also reportedly took umbrage with an interview given by Zaluzhny to The Economist in which he admitted the fight had ground to a stalemate - something the Ukrainian President fears could turn EU chiefs off the idea of sending more aid.

The now-former commander-in-chief acknowledged Zelensky's decision in a brief statement.

'The tasks of 2022 are different from those of 2024. Therefore, everyone must change and adapt to the new realities as well. In order to win together,' he said.

Zaluzhny was replaced by the commander of Ukraine's ground forces Oleksandr Syrsky, who is said to have a close relationship with Zelensky.

But the move will not be welcomed by many Ukrainian servicemen, who highly rate their 'Iron General'.
Posted by:Skidmark

#7  Zaluzhny out, Oleksandr Syrsky in, to what purpose?
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2024-02-09 14:37  

#6  All really long posts today are canaries in the coal mine.
Posted by: M. Murcek    2024-02-09 13:45  

#5  "Only a Russian Agent would say Ukraine isn't winning."
Posted by: swksvolFF   2024-02-09 13:43  

#4   ^ Don't you have any ambitious young colonels?
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2024-02-09 13:03  

#3  Syrskyi IS russian. He barely speaks Ukrainian.
Syrsky is hated by the Ukrainian troops, particularly those on the frontlines.
He’s being called a ‘butcher’ and is known in other circles as a meat-grinder who refused to give an inch in Bakhmut while calling for frontal meat-assaults, leading to the extermination of an entire field army group.
The parents and brother of the new commander-in-chief of the US-backed Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, still live in Russia, and his father is a retired colonel of the Russian Armed Forces, and now a pensioner
Why would Zelensky appoint a commander that the entire armed forces allegedly hates?
This fact, is a ‘design feature’ not a bug..
Zaluzhny was extremely popular with the armed forces of Ukraine many where hoping for him to lead an insurrection against the Kiev government .
Zelensky needs a commander-in-chief he can control, someone not universally loved by the troops; someone who cannot use those troops at a time of opportunity to ‘march on Kiev’ and oust Zelensky
Posted by: USA media is trash   2024-02-09 04:22  

#2  ...reached a stalemate."

Translation: Our arses are systematically being handed to us.
Posted by: Besoeker   2024-02-09 02:39  

#1  ^Ukraine's sponsors demand something to show their electorate?
Posted by: Grom the Reflective   2024-02-09 01:12  

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