Zelenskyy made right decision in replacing Zaluzhnyi - Budanov
Read NV on Google
There could hardly be personal differences between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former commander-in-chief Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi when one of them was “a direct subordinate to the other,” top spy chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Canada’s CBC News published on Feb. 28.
He also suggested that Zelenskyy made the right call in replacing Zaluzhnyi.
“If everything is good and everything is wonderful and everything is done correctly, then why are we in the situation we are in?” Budanov said.
Earlier this year, Budanov was considered as a potential replacement for then-Ukrainian commander-in-chief Zaluzhnyi, amidst rumors of Zelenskyy’s dissatisfaction with the progress of the war.
Zelenskyy did indeed replace Zaluzhnyi in early February, but not with Budanov. Speculation arose in the media that Zelenskyy was envious of Zaluzhnyi’s popularity and viewed him as a potential political rival in the future.
On Feb. 8, Zelenskyy issued a decree dismissing Zaluzhnyi from his post as chief of the army, which he had held for over 2.5 years, and appointed Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as his replacement.
The president made the announcement following a week of speculation about Zaluzhnyi’s resignation and reports of a rift with the commander-in-chief, which resurfaced in November 2023 after two prominent articles by Time and The Economist and subsequent events.
WP reported that Zaluzhnyi’s potential resignation stemmed from a disagreement over differing views on mobilization in Ukraine.
Both Budanov and Zaluzhnyi were recently bestowed with the title of Hero of Ukraine.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
