President Zelenskiy thanked General Valery Zarzhiny for his work and said he should remain “in the team.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Oleksandr Shirsky, who has led Ukraine's ground forces since 2019, as the new head of Ukraine's military after dismissing General Valery Zaruzhny.
In a post on X on Thursday, President Zelenskiy thanked Zarzhny for his two years of service and said it was time for a change in military leadership.
Zelenskiy said Zarzhini should remain “with the team.”
I met with General Valery Zarzini.
I thanked him for defending Ukraine for two years.
We discussed the updates requested by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
We also discussed who might join the new leadership of the Ukrainian military.
It's time for such renewal… pic.twitter.com/tMnUEZ3BCX— Volodymyr Zelensky / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 8, 2024
Zarzhini acknowledged that nearly two years after the Russian invasion, the country's military strategy “has to change.”
“The challenges of 2022 are different from those of 2024. Therefore, we must all change and adapt to new realities if we are to win together,'' the long-rumored dismissal was announced. Afterwards, he spoke.
The move represents the most profound shakeup at the top of the military since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“War remains the same. War changes and demands change. New approaches and new strategies are needed. Today a decision was taken on the need to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” said the Defense of Ukraine. Minister Rustem Umerov said.
President Zelenskiy said a new military leadership team would be sworn in on Thursday.
He called on the country's new military leadership to develop a strategy for this year to repel Russian forces.
“A realistic and detailed plan of action for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2024 should be considered, taking into account the actual situation and prospects of the current battlefield,” Zelenskiy said.
Last year, Ukraine succeeded in “taking back control” of the skies, but was unable to achieve its goals “on the ground,” he said.
President Zelenskiy said the country needed a “rotation system” and a new approach to mobilization and recruitment.