Zaluzhnyi declined to leave military service for civilian role – report

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed several civilian roles to Valerii Zaluzhnyi before the latter was dismissed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov reported via Facebook on Feb. 8.

Zelenskyy reportedly offered Zaluzhnyi positions such as personal aide, deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, or ambassador to the United Kingdom.

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Butusov, citing his sources, claimed that Zaluzhnyi refused to voluntarily leave the Armed Forces of Ukraine or to take on "any civilian role" during the war.

Read also: Zelenskyy to convene Staff meeting to decide fate of Zaluzhnyi, rumored to be on the rocks – Butusov

“After Zelenskyy announced the decision, Zaluzhnyi sent messages to many of his friends stating that he was 'being sent into retirement,” Butusov wrote.

Read also: Ukraine's military chief Zaluzhnyi to swap frontline strategies for lectures?

Earlier on Feb. 8, Zelenskyy released Zaluzhnyi from his duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 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%.

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