On February 8, 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky removed General Valerii Zaluzhnyi as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces. Zaluzhnyi had held the post since July 2021. His successor was General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who had been running the Land Forces.
Three decrees did the work. No. 59/2024 ended Zaluzhnyi’s tenure, No. 58/2024 relieved Syrskyi of the Land Forces, and No. 60/2024 gave him the top job, according to UNN.
What Zelensky said
In a video address, Zelensky pointed to Syrskyi’s record. The new commander, he said, had “conducted the Kyiv defense operation” and led “the Kharkiv liberation operation.” Zelensky listed more officers under consideration for senior roles: Generals Andrii Hnatov, Mykhailo Drapatyi and Ihor Skybiuk, and Colonels Pavel Palisa and Vadym Sukharevskyi.
He also set tasks. The armed forces, he said, needed “a detailed plan of the Armed Forces for 2024, an effective rotation system, improving the quality of training for soldiers, and more.” Syrskyi would “present the reboot team of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the coming days.”
Zaluzhnyi answered separately. “A decision was made about the need to change approaches and strategy,” he said, adding that military leadership must adapt as circumstances change.
Months of friction
The Kyiv Independent traced the break to November 2023. In an interview with The Economist, Zaluzhnyi warned that Ukraine was heading into “a trap of a prolonged war.” Zelensky publicly disputed that view, and reports of tension between the two men followed.
The public was on the general’s side. A December 2023 poll found that 72% of Ukrainians opposed removing him, and he held a 92% trust rating. Washington stayed out of it. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States would not weigh in on Ukraine’s personnel decisions.
Sources
- Zelensky dismisses Chief Commander Zaluzhnyi, appoints Syrskyi (Kyiv Independent)
- Personnel rotation in the Armed Forces: decrees on dismissal of Zaluzhnyi and appointment of Syrskyi published (UNN)
