President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is going to replace the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which will be the largest reshuffle of the military command of Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion two years ago, reports Financial Times. That’s after what On Monday, Ukrainian mass media reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyi offered him a new role, but the general refused. Fabricated information or not, rumor or not, what would such a change actually mean.

According to the Financial Times, four people familiar with the discussions confirmed the information that first appeared in Telegram channels and then in the Ukrainian press, that Zelenskyy intends to replace Zaluzhny.

Two of the sources said Zelensky made it clear to Zaluzhny that whether or not he accepted the new role, he would be removed from his current position.

The four people warned that Zelensky has not yet fired Zaluzhny and may not do so for some time after the media reports.

On Monday, Zelenskyi’s press secretary, Serhiy Nikiforov, and the Ministry of Defense denied information about Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal.

On Tuesday, the president’s office declined to comment further.

Zaluzhny held the post of Commander-in-Chief from July 2021. Information about some disagreements between Zaluzhny and Zelensky first appeared in November 2023.

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The supposed rift between the two drew heightened attention after Zaluzhnyi’s martial law interview with The Economist on Nov. 1, in which he said Ukraine was in danger of being trapped in a protracted war.

A few days later, Zelensky dismissed the idea of ​​a stalemate in the war, while his diplomatic adviser called Zaluzhny’s comments “very strange” and suggested they might be playing Russia’s games.

On December 4, “Ukrainian Pravda” reported, citing anonymous sources, that Zelenskyi would “bypass” Zaluzhnyi in communication with some military commanders. Therefore, later the adviser to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Mykhailo Podolyak stated that there is no reason to consider the dismissal of Valery Zaluzhny from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

At a press conference on December 19, Zelensky insisted that he has a working relationship with Valery Zaluzhny.

“Why should I help someone by developing this topic? I have a working relationship with Zaluzhnyi,” the head of state said.

He said it’s not about personal relationships, it’s about accountability and strategy.

Replacing Zaluzhnyi will cause a scandal both in the army and in civil society

The Financial Times notes that replacing Zaluzhny would cause outrage among the Ukrainian military and civil society, among whom the general enjoys huge support.

“It will have a very, very negative impact on [moralului] army,” Ukrainian military historian Mykhailo Zhirogov told Radio NV in Kyiv, adding the caveat that he considers these rumors to be “fabricated.”

Zaluzhny’s replacement could also cause concern among Ukraine’s Western partners, including the military, which has worked closely with the general over the past two years to develop a strategy for fighting. And this will happen at a critical moment in the war, when Kyiv is waiting to see if it will receive billions of dollars in critical military and financial aid from the US and the EU.

Zaluzhnyi did not comment on the information about his dismissal, although on Monday he published on Facebook an undated selfie with Chief of the General Staff Serhiy Shaptala, in which both were wearing Ukrainian army hoodies. The post was shared more than 2,000 times and received hundreds of supportive comments within minutes of being posted.

Who could replace Zalunny

The timing of Zaluzhny’s departure, whether he will take on a new role and who will replace him as commander-in-chief have yet to be determined, according to all four people consulted by the FT.

The likely candidates for the position are the commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the head of the Main Directorate of Military Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov. Both men are close to Zelenskyi.

Zaluzhny, 50, nicknamed the “Iron General” by fans, was appointed Zelenskyi’s commander-in-chief in July 2021 and has been in charge of Ukrainian military operations since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.