Zelensky demobilized former Commander-in-Chief Zaluzny and positioned him in London

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Valery Zaluzny, a former supreme commander of the nationwide armed forces, as “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UK,” in line with an govt order posted on the presidential web site. In reality, Zaluzny-Zelensky relations have been thought-about unhealthy, with the previous’s appointment as extraordinary ambassador in London being seen as the one approach for Zelensky’s primary political opponent to depart Ukraine.

Earlier on Thursday, Zelenskiy demobilized Zaluzny from army service for “well being causes.” On February 8, Zaluzny was dismissed as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military. On the time, Ukrainian media reported that Zaluzny was Zelensky’s primary opponent within the doable presidential election, if it have been to be held.

After the dismissal of the commander-in-chief, the opposition criticized Zelensky’s choice, however he justified this transfer on the grounds of stagnation on the entrance and the necessity to “restart the military”. Valery Zaluzny was credited with the protection for the primary two years of the Russian offensive and primarily for “repelling the assault on Kiev”. He was “mutilated” from the place of commander-in-chief on the grounds of stagnation on the entrance.

An entire change of faces round Zelensky

Later in March it was introduced that the president had agreed to nominate Zaluzny as ambassador to the UK. Nonetheless, Ukrainian media reported that the previous supreme commander had disappeared from the radar for a very long time and had even stopped posting something on social networks. Mykhail Podoliak, an adviser to the pinnacle of the Ukrainian presidential workplace, mentioned Valery Zaluzny would change into an envoy to keep away from hypothesis about his actions.

On March 26, Zelensky fired Alexei Danilov, secretary of the Nationwide Safety and Protection Council, who was additionally given a diplomatic submit. As well as, Zelensky’s first assistant and longtime good friend Sergei Sefir and three extra impartial advisers have been fired.

In accordance with analysts of the Ukrainian on-line newspaper Strana, these reshuffles show that Andriy Yermak, the pinnacle of the workplace of the Ukrainian president, is consolidating his place and has really change into the second most influential particular person in Ukraine.

The causes of the Zelensky – Zaluzny battle “If it weren’t for Zaluzny, we might all be talking Russian already”

The 50-year-old common’s attraction is partly resulting from deep respect for the army in a rustic beneath assault from an out of doors enemy. However Ukrainians additionally like the best way he has remained targeted on his work relatively than constructing a public profile. When Zaluzny was appointed in July 2021, he grew to become the primary fashionable military chief to be educated in impartial Ukraine relatively than in Soviet academies and represents a brand new era of officers.

“If it wasn’t for Zaluzny, we might all be talking Russian by now,” mentioned Yeven, a 38-year-old soldier serving on the entrance in southern Ukraine, who requested to not give his full identify for safety causes. “If Zaluzny is fired, there might be an rebellion.”

On Monday (29/1) Zelensky reportedly known as Zaluzny to a convention and informed him he was being relieved of his duties. Stories showing within the Western media declare that Zaluzny has refused to resign.

One of many fundamental tenets of a democratic society, which says {that a} political-military relationship primarily based on the easy concept that the democratically elected political management is the supreme authority in all issues, together with army issues, and that the political Authority retains supreme authority in case of disagreements between the political and army management, is significantly undermined by the rift between Zelensky and Zaluzny.