rumor swirling Valery Zarzhiny, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, may be fired soon. As a result of the chatter, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said: post On Telegram: “Dear journalists, we answer you right away: No, that’s not true.”
Responsible for organizing Ukraine’s defense and exploiting disorganization in Russia to mount a limited counterattack, Mr. Zarzhini is not irreplaceable, but Ukraine is particularly in the fight to maintain its statehood. We will be losing a capable, respected and experienced leader at a sensitive time. region. This is wrong.
Countries can survive failures and still win wars, especially defensive wars. Organizing a defense is difficult, but achievable with motivated and disciplined soldiers and a unified nation. Defensive warfare is a type of combat multiplier that can offset even significant disadvantages in logistics and personnel. But defense still requires organization, motivation and reliable leadership. The Ukrainian military is blessed with such a leader in Zarzhni.
As far as I know, Mr. Zarzini can be fired for a few small reasons and a big reason for failing to fight back in 2023. Small reasons, no matter how many, should not have led to his dismissal. petty dispute The growing cult of personality and disagreements over strategy between him and Volodymyr Zelensky pale in comparison to the reputation of Zarzhini, but he was highly regarded by his soldiers and second-in-commands. It is highly rated.
The 2023 counteroffensive, which I was present and participated in and left Ukraine in mid-May, just as it began, was doomed from the beginning. The army lacked the weapons needed to fight and win, especially attacking the south, which was heavily fortified by Russia. The military did not have enough time to train troops for an attack, which is especially difficult to coordinate in modern warfare. Moreover, the counterattack was closely managed not only by the domestic politics that made it necessary, but also by the counterattack. external allies We desperately want Ukraine to win.
It is a miracle that Zarzhini was able to cling to Ukraine’s forces under these conditions. Western leaders appeared to want Ukrainian forces to carry out bayonet charges on the Russian front from Kharkov to Kherson.
There are various junctures in a war, moments when the direction of the conflict can move in one direction. Ukraine still has significant combat power, even though its artillery ammunition is dwindling. It has great mobility and solid defense. It is currently rebuilding its reserves, mobilizing more personnel, and training for combat.
Removing Zarzhny now would mean accepting that the general could do something else at his level. I don’t know if he can do it. The general convenes and organizes a mostly fixed line of defense to protect as much territory as possible. He provides the outside world with a recognizable and admirable face that can boost the morale of the soldiers and still energize foreign supporters tired of Zelenskiy (though the president himself is not to blame) No. He is being treated unfairly, viciously and unfairly) (a shameful smear campaign). Finally, no general in Ukraine is more knowledgeable about what the country has, needs, or could do at the tactical and operational levels.
Generally, generals are removed from office in wars only because they are incompetent, that is, incapable of commanding or organizing an army. It would be a mistake to dismiss Zarzhini now simply because Ukraine has more personnel and equipment but could not succeed in its offensive. It would also be a mistake to fire Zelenskiy just because he threatened him.
Provide him with the manpower and weapons he needs to maintain a sound defense, bearing in mind that, unless there is some damning unpublished information about him, the focus of domestic and international politics will one day shift to opportunistic attacks. It should be in particular.
Adrian Bohnenberger is an author and U.S. Army veteran.He edits and writes military media.
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