General Valery Zarzhiny has been removed as head of Ukraine’s military, a major change in the weeks leading up to the second anniversary of Russia’s re-invasion, and comments by leaders about the need for change imply failure. appears to be acknowledging that.
Ukrainian dignitaries were filled with gratitude for the accomplishments of General Valery Zarzhiny, who was removed from office on Thursday, but the need for change was soon being discussed behind the scenes, and his successor was asked to elaborate on the necessary improvements. Even the breakdown was revealed. President Zelensky. Morale is low in Ukraine and people are “talking less about victory,” he said, calling for major changes in approach and tempo.
President Zelenskiy announced that Colonel Oleksandr Shirschiy, the leader of Ukraine’s ground forces, whom he praised as “the most experienced Ukrainian commander,” has been appointed to replace General Zarouzhny.
President Zelenskiy and General Oleksandr Shirushkyi (Photo by Metin AktaÅ/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“Europe doesn’t know how to fight a war,” he chides Ukraine and warns it will be attacked next. https://t.co/rbEegUuZWO
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 29, 2023
Outgoing General Zarzhini and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov seemed to be reading from the same script, and they explicitly addressed how the nature of war has changed and how it now needs to change. General Zarzini said on social media Thursday afternoon: “Our fight continues and is changing every day. The challenges of 2022 are different from his challenges of 2024. Therefore, everyone must change and adapt to the new reality as well.”
Defense Minister Rustem said the general had endured “one of the most difficult tasks” in leading the army during the invasion of Russia, but still “wars do not remain the same. Wars change, and the demands change. The battles of 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities.”
Rustem said 2024 will bring “new changes” and “needs new approaches, new strategies,” which is clearly a recent shift to World War I thinking. General Zarzini’s strategy, which has made this completely public, tacitly acknowledges this. We’re screwed.
Perhaps the most scathing remarks were directed at President Zelenskiy himself, who, in a speech to the nation in Ukrainian, announced that he had chosen Colonel Oleksandr Shirushky to replace General Zaruzhny, and that he had made improvements. provided a bulleted list of expected areas. Alluding to the tendency of some Ukrainian officers to lead from the rear, Zelenskiy said that from now on, [front lines], he does not serve Ukraine. ”
Stalemate: Ukraine goes on the offensive as war pivots to “defensive posture…stagnation”https://t.co/HErbbv5tqt
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 23, 2023
Again clearly condemning the military’s current situation, President Zelenskiy called for a “realistic and detailed plan of action for the Armed Forces of Ukraine towards 2024, taking into account the actual situation and prospects of the current battlefield” and said that such hinted that no plans exist yet. and reduction of “excessive and unreasonable staff numbers.” President Zelenskiy criticized the use of the military, again implicitly stating that the best weapons were not distributed logically and that untrained soldiers were being sent into battle.
He said: “Each combat brigade on the front lines should receive effective Western weapons. There should be a fair redistribution of such weapons in favor of the front lines. All that is needed is a clear improvement in the quality of training of soldiers. They are soldiers trained on the front lines.”
Other changes include the creation of an “Unmanned Systems” command (currently, drone operations are split between the military and intelligence agencies) and the ability for drones to actually reach the front lines rather than being left in “warehouses.” This includes improvements in logistics.
Zelenskiy said this year must be decisive, noting that the significant achievements of the previous year, such as surviving the first onslaught and defeating the Russian Black Sea Fleet, had been replaced by a sense of stagnation. Ta. In a televised speech, he said: “I have to be honest. The feeling of blockage, especially in the south and the difficulty of the fighting in Donetsk, is affecting the national mood. Ukrainians are talking less about victory. The spirit never lost faith in victory.
“This year should be the era of Ukraine. It will be the era when every Ukrainian soldier knows, as always, that the Ukrainian state and the Ukrainian army are capable of victory.”
Ukraine “curtails” military operations due to lack of foreign aid https://t.co/IAqNH8dc3w
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 21, 2023
The appointment comes in response to weeks of speculation that President Zelenskiy would take on one of his strongest allies, General Valery Zarzhiny, who is one of the country’s most powerful allies as the war stagnates. He is one of the few people who can claim fame and popularity.of daily telegraph General Zarzini also noted that he had “trust” from Western NATO leaders.
President Zelenskiy told Italian television that he intended a “reset, a new beginning” over the weekend, but that this would involve not just replacing one person, but the entire leadership of the country.
President Zelensky struck this note again today, saying: Even more so when it comes to politics. This is about the institutions of our armed forces, the management of the Ukrainian army and the experience of combatant commanders of this war. ”
The realignment also follows months of discussions about the outcome of Ukraine’s failed spring 2023 counteroffensive and another counteroffensive this year. Kirillo Budanov, Ukraine’s head of defense intelligence, said last week that Russia is currently in the offensive phase, but that “sometime in the early spring, Russia will be completely exhausted,” and that it will be Ukraine’s turn to fight back. Ta.
Is it true this time?Ukraine talks about spring 2024 counteroffensive https://t.co/X6Mxl2bnf9
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 2, 2024
