Ukraine's military commander Valery Zarzhiny on Monday refused President Volodymyr Zelensky's order to resign, sparking speculation that the president may have fired the general, according to reports.
While the two sides have endured weeks of smoldering personality clashes as Ukraine's summer pushback against Russia stalls, the very possibility that the hugely popular Mr. Zarzhni may be ordered to resign is in the minds of many. The Guardian reported that it was shocking. report Tuesday.
“Personally, I think this is a bad idea. There are no fundamental problems between the two sides, but President Zelenskiy's office has confirmed that Zarouzhny is making political, not military, statements. We are concerned,” Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian opposition lawmaker and supporter of Zarouzhny, told the Guardian. He added that Kirillo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, could replace the general if he has the support of Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
Umerov dismissed speculation swirling on social media. “Dear journalists, we answer you right away: No, this is not true,” he said on Monday afternoon, according to the Guardian.
The news was reported on an anonymous Telegram channel on Monday night, but continued conflicting reactions from various sources made the story difficult to confirm as of Monday. according to Kiev Independent. The Kyiv Independent pointed out that both internal information from President Zelensky's office and false information about Ukraine were disseminated from the Telegram channel in the past.
The Kyiv Independent pointed out that no official statement has yet been issued from all parties involved. (Ukrainian officials stole nearly $40 million intended for ammunition, Intel Agency says)
⚡️Conflicting reports point to Mr. Zarzini's removal as commander-in-chief, but no official decree has been published.
President Zelenskiy's spokesman Sergiy Nikiforov told the Kiev Independent at 7:50 p.m. on January 29 that Zarzhniy had not been fired. https://t.co/SFdC1715mA
— Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) January 29, 2024
Mr. Zarzhny had warned of “huge risks to the Ukrainian military and the state” due to the “trap” of “war of positions” in the situation in Ukraine. November 1, 2023 Economist Magazine Essay. However, President Zelensky did not agree with Zarouzny's position, and reports emerged that Zelensky was bypassing Zarouzny in military communications, according to the Kiev Independent newspaper.Zelensky It was later reported that In response to a question about disagreements between the two leaders, he said he had a “working relationship” with Mr. Zarzini.
Zelenskyy said of Zarzhny: Video address for January 24th On the same day, he tweeted about a Russian plane crash that reportedly killed 65 Ukrainian prisoners. “It was the 700th day since the start of the war, a very difficult day, but first of all I wanted to help Umerov, Zarzhni, [Chief of General Staff Serhiy] Shaptala, Budanov, [Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl] Mariuk. They reported on the situation and interactions of the aircraft,” Zelenskiy said.
in him latest video address During the briefing, President Zelensky spoke of a “very cordial conversation” with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and praised Ukraine's progress in producing domestic drones and ammunition.
