Zelenskyy appoints Colonel General Syrskyi as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
"I offered General Zaluzhnyi to continue to be part of the team of the Ukrainian state. I would be grateful for his consent. Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the President said in a video.
"Right now is the time for such a renewal. I have offered Valerii Fedorovych to remain in the team,"
Zelenskyy said.
Zaluzhnyi said that for 2024, the Armed Forces of Ukraine faces the task of "adapting to new realities".
"The decision was made to change approaches and strategy. I am grateful to everyone who is with me. I am grateful to the General Staff, the Ministry of Defence, and the President of Ukraine."
Defence Minister Rustem Umerov also announced the change in the Armed Forces leadership and thanked Valerii Zaluzhnyi for his service.
"War does not remain the same. War changes and requires changes. Combat operations in 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes that we must be prepared for," said Umerov.
Earlier, mass media reported on the possible resignation of the Commander-in-Chief.
Later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a "personnel reset, " not only in the military sector.
"When we talk about this, I mean replacing a number of state leaders, not just in one sector, like the army. I am thinking about this replacement, but it is impossible to say that we will replace only one person,"
said the President of Ukraine.
BBC Ukraine's sources reported that Zaluzhnyi was offered the post of ambassador to one of the European countries or NSDC secretary. However, the General allegedly refused.
