General Syrskyi is willing to engage the enemy, even if the cost in men and machines is high – the Economist
The new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi has a reputation for being willing to engage the enemy, even if the cost in men and machines is high, The Economist wrote.
Read also: Change of commander signals new direction for AFU — Southern Defense Forces
“He is a divisive figure who provokes strong reactions from serving officers,” the article said.
“Some praise his professionalism, others say he terrifies his subordinates and rules by fear. He is less likely to question the priorities of his President.”
“As he takes on the top job, he will have to soften his style of command and learn to speak truth to power,” the journalists said.
Zaluzhnyi dismissal: what is known
New rumors about Zelenskyi's decision to resign as head of the Armed Forces began to spread on January 29. At the same time, reports of an apparent escalation of the conflict between them appeared again in November 2023 — after two high-profile articles by Time and The Economist and a series of events that followed.
Read also: Zaluzhnyi steps down as Commander-in-Chief, replaced by Syrskyi
In a series of articles for the British magazine, Zaluzhnyi stated that the war was entering an exhausting positional phase for Ukraine. The President's Office then issued several statements indirectly refuting the general. Zelenskyy later acknowledged the difficult situation at the front, but said he did not believe the war had reached a deadlock.
On Dec. 4, NV’s sister publication Ukrainska Pravda published an article about Zelenskyy’s relationship with Zaluzhnyi. The article quotes a comment by a member of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff that Zelenskyy came close to a decision on Zaluzhnyi’s replacement after Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv.
The President actually created parallel tracks for communication with commanders of various branches of the military, which bypassed Zaluzhnyi, journalists wrote.
The Zelenskyy administration repeatedly dismissed reports of a conflict between the state leader and the chief of the Armed Forces. Zaluzhnyi did not comment on them, and Zelenskyy refused to comment.
Media reports on Jan. 29 speculated about Zaluzhnyi's potential firing as Armed Forces Chief, which the Defense Ministry promptly denied. Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, also refuted these reports, while the President didn’t raise the situation in his daily evening address.
Read also: With Syrskyi now Commander-in-Chief, who is Zelenskyy considering as new Armed Forces Commander?
Zelenskyy planned to dismiss Zaluzhnyi but changed his decision after the information leaked to the media, The New York Times wrote. The Washington Post reported that the reason for the possible ousting was disagreements that arose from different views on conscription in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy released Zaluzhnyi from his duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Feb. 8, appointing Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces, as his successor.
Zaluzhnyi had served in the role since July 2021 and had enjoyed massive popularity and support from the public for his role in defending against the Russian invasion. According to a late December 2023 survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Zaluzhnyi is trusted by 88% of Ukrainians, Zelenskyy by 62%, and 59% trust both of them at the same time.
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
