News Feed, Ukraine, Zaluzhnyi

Umerov: 'A decision was made to change the Armed Forces' leadership'

by Dinara Khalilova and The Kyiv Independent news desk February 8, 2024 6:33 PM 1 min read

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi pose for a photo shared by the two on Feb. 8, 2024. (Volodymyr Zelensky)

This audio is created with AI assistance

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said a decision was made "on the need to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

Umerov thanked Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi for his service.

"War changes and demands change. Battles 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes for which we must be ready. New approaches, new strategies are needed," the defense minister said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 8, he met Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi and hinted at the commander's dismissal following days of rumors about such a decision.

Zelensky thanked him for “two years of protecting Ukraine’ and discussed with him “who could be in the new leadership of the Armed Forces.”

“The time for such a reset is now,” added Zelensky.

Zaluzhnyi served as Commander-in-Chief since July 2021. Reports first surfaced in November 2023 about disagreements between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi.

A December 2023 poll found that 72% of Ukrainians would disapprove of his resignation.

However, the relationship between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi has appeared to be strained for weeks, particularly after Nov. 1, when Zaluzhnyi described a potential “trap” of a prolonged war during an interview with the Economist.

Authors: Dinara Khalilova, The Kyiv Independent news desk

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Freedom can be costly. Both Ukraine and its journalists are paying a high price for their independence. Support independent journalism in its darkest hour. Support us for as little as $1, and it only takes a minute.

Comments

News Feed

9:42 PM

Germany will provide Ukraine with 45 million euros for energy restoration.

Germany will provide Ukraine 45 million euros ($48 million) in the form of a grant for energy restoration, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced on May 9.

9:23 PM

Zelensky's 'wanted' notice disappears from Russian Interior Ministry website.

On May 4, Zelensky had appeared on a list of alleged criminals in an entry that said he was being sought "under an article of the criminal code" without providing further details.

8:53 PM

Zelensky dismisses head of State Security Administration.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the head of Ukraine's State Security Administration (UDO), Serhii Rud, according to a presidential decree published on May 9.

8:22 PM

Kyiv city officials to limit street lighting to save electricity.

Kyiv city officials will begin reducing evening street lighting after Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy system caused major power shortages throughout the country, Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, announced on May 9.

7:57 PM

Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast injure 2.

Russia has recently intensified attacks against the Kharkiv Oblast in which Kupiansk is situated, using missiles, glide bombs, and kamikaze drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

7:37 PM

Source: Ukraine strikes Russian oil refinery 1,500 kilometers from border.

For the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine attacked facilities in Bashkortostan, some 1,500 kilometers from the country's border, according to the source.

7:35 PM

Update: Russian attack on Nikopol kills 2, injures 8.

A Russian attack on the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed two people and injured eight others, Governor Serhii Lysak reported on May 9.

6:59 PM

Zelensky reappoints Hereha as Support Forces commander.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reappointed Dmytro Hereha as the commander of Ukraine's Support Forces on May 9 after previously replacing him with Oleksandr Yakovets back in March.

6:20 PM

Two hydropower plants decommissioned after May 8 Russian attacks.

Russia carried out a large-scale attack on May 8 against Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, mainly targeting energy infrastructure.

6:16 PM

Zelensky signs laws on mobilization, extension of martial law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law the extension of martial law and general mobilization from May 14 to August 11.

5:56 PM

Sweden to allocate 28 million euros for Ukraine's defense.

In March 2024, Sweden officially joined NATO after a lengthy application process triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was immediately vocal in its calls for other alliance members to do more.

5:50 PM

EU Ambassador to Ukraine: Ukraine could join EU in 2030.

2030 is a very real date for Ukraine to join the European Union, Katarina Mathernova, the EU ambassador to Ukraine, said in an interview on May 9.

5:00 PM

Kolomoisky remanded in custody until July 7 in murder case.

On May 9, the Prosecutor General's Office announced he was suspected of ordering the murder of the head of a law firm more than 20 years ago in Crimea.

4:51 PM

Victory Day

Umerov: 'A decision was made to change the Armed Forces' leadership'

Most popular

News Feed

Editors' Picks

Subscribe

Subscribe

Subscribe