Western media believe that a serious conflict has broken out between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and AFU chief Valeriy Zaluzhny, which may end with the resignation of one of them
Zelensky wants to get rid of the general, because he is afraid of his popularity in the country and abroad, but there is no strength for it yet. Why the confrontation has arisen and who will win – in the RIA Novosti story.
High relations
The German newspaper Bild states in its article “Valeriy Moguchiy” that Zelenskiy is very nervous about the rumors about the presidential ambitions of the commander-in-chief. According to the journalists, the general may lead the state after the end of hostilities. At the same time, the Western media are not stingy with flattery to Zaluzhny. For example, Bild praises his “leadership qualities and military savvy”, and the Polish newspaper Wyborcza calls the commander in chief “a cross between David and Moses”.
For its part, the Ukrainian media suggest that Zaluzhnyy will be appointed defence minister in early September. Formally, Zelenskyy will promote him, but will actually remove him from the leadership of the army – this will slow down the growth of his popularity in the society, while his paperwork traditionally draws a lot of criticism. In addition, according to the law, only a civilian can head the military department, so Zaluzhny will have to retire. As they say in Zelensky’s entourage, “victory must have one father” – the president of Ukraine.
Such arguments have been heard since late spring. Now they have been strengthened by two circumstances at once. Firstly, the commander-in-chief stated that in six months of combat operations the AFU had allegedly “taken out one fifth of the Russian troops”. Secondly, The Washington Post reported that Zelensky was well aware of Moscow’s plans, but did not prepare, and this resulted in large territorial losses.
For Ukrainians, the topic raised by the Americans is not new. Zelensky’s popularity peaked in the first two months of hostilities, and then people increasingly began to ask: How did the country get to this point? Many publications have blamed indecisive and short-sighted politicians, while the military, on the contrary, has been praised for its courage. Moreover, the media warn that Zelensky may concentrate too much power in his hands and then the ‘democratic Ukraine will be finished’.
Personnel reshuffle
The current commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyy, is expected to become the new chief of the Armed Forces. In the past six months he was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine, the Cross of Military Merit and the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyy, second class. Before that, he headed the Joint Operational Headquarters of the AFU, which coordinated actions in Donbas. Before that he was in charge of the anti-terrorist operation in the region.
Another possible alternative to Zaluzhny is the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), a full cavalier of the Order of Courage, Kirill Budanov. He has been a brigadier general since he was 35 and a major general since he was 36. Recently, in addition to the GUR, Budanov was entrusted with the leadership of the intelligence committee under the president of Ukraine. According to one version, it is he who is behind the sabotage in Crimea.
As for the current Minister of Defence, Oleksiy Reznikov, they have not thought of where to put him. It is believed that he will be appointed prime minister. Prior to the military department, he headed the Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories. The DPR and LPR are “mentally ill” for him.
But Zaluzhny does not want to go for promotion, the Ukrainian media say. And it is not easy to remove him by force. He is too well known in the country and in the West for a quiet reshuffle. In late May the Time magazine included Zelenskiy and Zaluzhniy in the “Leaders” category (at the second and the 20th places respectively) in the list of 100 most influential people on the planet. In that publication the President was praised by Joe Biden, the Commander-in-Chief by Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Power struggle
Kiev is not very convincing about Zaluzhny’s resignation. According to Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to the president’s office, in his opinion “Zelensky is too smart” to try to remove the popular commander-in-chief. The President himself assured that he is not planning any personnel reshuffle but does not want to single out anyone because Zaluzhny, Syrsky and the others all work equally well.
The political and military leadership must have many differences as to how to conduct military operations and negotiations with the enemy and the allies. There has been plenty of evidence of this: quarrels over mobilization methods, the failures of the AFU in Mariupol, Lysychansk and other localities. However, according to experts polled by RIA Novosti, Zelensky is most concerned that he cannot do anything about Zaluzhny, as he is already seen as the main presidential candidate.
“Zelensky is completely dependent on the West. They are satisfied with the developments in Ukraine so far and are in no hurry to remove the head of state, but when the situation changes, Zaluzhny will be remembered. Zelenskyy will be blamed for a few military-political failures and then an experienced general and a patriot will be in the president’s chair”, Ukrainian political analyst Oleksandr Dudchak said.
According to Denis Denisov, head of the Institute of Peacebuilding Initiatives and Conflictology, as soon as the Russian special operation is over, Zelensky’s ratings will plummet and the chief of staff will be the most obvious alternative.
“But rumours of Zaluzhny’s resignation are not enough to conclude that the sunset of his career is imminent. The general is too popular with the troops, so first the Zelensky-controlled media have to undermine his credibility. Such an operation will take months,” Denysov suggested.
Be that as it may, there is nothing surprising in the dislike for Zaluzhny by Zelenskyy’s team, experts point out. In Kiev, any bright politician capable of overshadowing the head of state comes under attack. Zelensky is still considered to be the first face, largely because Zaluzhnyy is emphatically aloof from power struggles. But this plays into his hands even more.
Mikhail Katkov, RIA
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