2024-02-09 20:07:46
2024-02-10 04:07 Compiled by Liao Zhenyao/Comprehensive Report from United Daily News Ukraine changed coaches before the battle, and President Zelensky (middle) announced that Ground Forces Commander Sersky (right) would take over as commander-in-chief. (…
On the 8th, Ukrainian President Zelensky announced on the social media TG that he would replace Zaluzny, the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, and replace him with the 58-year-old Ukrainian ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, whose nickname is “Snow Leopard.” Take over. U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallander said on the same day that Zelensky has the right to choose who will lead the Ukrainian army, and the United States will effectively cooperate with the new commander-in-chief.
Rumors that Zelenskiy intends to replace Zaluzny have been rampant in recent months, and were finally confirmed on the 8th. Agence France-Presse reported that this is the largest personnel reshuffle in the top leadership of the Ukrainian army since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Reuters reported that given that Ukraine is struggling to completely revise its method of mobilizing civilians to participate in the war, the coaching change may affect the morale of the Ukrainian troops on the front line and Zelensky’s support.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Zaluzny for his contribution and posted a photo of the two shaking hands and smiling, with Zaluzny showing the V sign symbolizing victory with his left hand. Zelensky said that from today on, the new management team will take over the leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The promotion of Sersky was due to his command of the defense battle of Kiev and the successful counterattack in the Kharkiv area the year before last, which enabled Ukraine to recover its military base. Cities such as Pyansk and Izyum.
Sersky also led the Bakhmut battle. Although the Ukrainian army suffered heavy losses, it trapped the Russian army in this salt mining town of little strategic significance and also weakened the Russian army’s ability to achieve major gains in other places.
Fifty-year-old Zaluzny said frankly that the mission when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 will be different from this year, so everyone must change and adapt to the new reality and win together. He said that he had important and serious conversations with Zelensky and made a decision to change battlefield tactics and strategy. The US political news website Politico quoted a person close to Zelensky’s office as saying, “I think this (decision) has been delayed for a long time.”
However, it was a big gamble for Selski to take over the army. Many Ukrainians regard Zaluzny as a national hero. A poll at the end of last year showed that the public’s trust in him exceeded 90%, which was higher than Zelensky’s 77%. The Russian army has also gradually gained the upper hand following nearly two years in this war. On the other hand, Kiev is waiting for the United States to agree to provide important new military aid that has been delayed for several months. A major change in the leadership of the Ukrainian army may add to the uncertainty.
Under the command of Zaluzny, the Ukrainian army repelled the initial Russian offensive in 2022. However, Zelenskiy’s counterattack, with heavy thunder and small raindrops, was unable to break through the Russian defense line. Instead, the Russian army increased the offensive pressure on Ukraine’s eastern front in an attempt to cut off and surround Avdiivka.
Ukraine Russia Russia-Ukraine War Zelensky
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