Volodymyr Zelensky could be about to launch a major shake-up of the Ukrainian military with speculation swirling he could remove one of his leading commanders.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi was asked by the Ukrainian president to step down on Monday but the general refused, sparking rumours he might soon lose his job.
For weeks, relations have reportedly been strained between the two men due to Ukraine’s unsuccessful counterattack this summer, but even so, people were surprised to hear that Zaluzhnyi might be sacked.
Ukrainian MP Oleksii Goncharenko, who is friendly with the general, told The Guardian that Zaluzhnyi had stood his ground when Zelenskiy asked for his resignation.
Goncharenko put the fight down to a clash of personalities, saying: “Personally, I think this is a bad idea. There are not fundamental issues between them but Zelensky’s office has been concerned that Zaluzhnyi has been making political, not military statements.”
Talk of Zaluzhnyi getting the sack have started swirling on social media.
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