The rumor mill is currently spinning in Ukraine. According to media reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Commander-in-Chief Valery Zalushnyj. The denial from Kiev followed promptly.
Excitement in Ukraine: On Monday evening, the Interfax news agency reported that Zelensky had dismissed popular commander-in-chief Zalushny. The commander-in-chief of the armed forces had made a name for himself with his achievements in the war in Ukraine. Recently, however, dissatisfaction over the failed summer offensive has increased.
Offered another task?
On Tuesday, the Financial Times, citing four people familiar with the matter, reported that Zelenskiy had offered Saluzhny another job on Monday, but he
General refused.
Ministry denies rumors
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense now announced via Telegram: “Dear journalists, we answer everyone at once: it is not true.” Presidential press spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov also denied the rumors. Neither Zelenskyj nor Saluschny have commented on this yet.
Saluzhny was appointed to his post a few months before the start of the war in Ukraine. With his successes at the front, the commander-in-chief is popular among the population and the army and is a symbol of resistance against Russia for many Ukrainians. According to data from the Sociological Institute in Kyiv, his approval ratings currently even surpass those of the president.
Saluschny as a competitor for Zelenskyj?
Although he distances himself from political ambitions, the relationship between Saluschny and the Ukrainian president has long been perceived as tense – probably also because the commander-in-chief could become a political competitor of Zelensky.
In November 2023, the deputy of the presidential Servant of the People party, Marjana Besuhla, called for Saluschny’s resignation for entering the new year too haphazardly. Mobilization is also a real point of contention: Zelensky does not want to grant Saluschny’s request to expand the size of the army.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
