Zelensky confirms considering AFU Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal

In an interview with Italian outlet Rai News 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he is considering the possibility of dismissing Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

“This is a question of the people who will lead Ukraine. Undoubtedly, there’s a need for a reset, a fresh start,” said Zelensky. The Ukrainian president clarified that he was speaking not only about Zaluzhnyi or military leadership, but that he was considering plans to replace a number of government officials.

Zelensky added that for Ukraine to win the war, Ukrainians must have the “right positive energy.” “That's why I’m talking about a reset, about a change; I mean something substantial that doesn’t just concern one person but the direction of the country’s leadership,” Zelensky said.

According to reports in Ukrainian and American media, Zelensky informed Zaluzhnyi of his impending dismissal from the position of AFU commander-in-chief during a meeting on January 29. Initially, the Office of the President of Ukraine and Ukraine’s Defense Ministry denied reports that Zaluzhnyi was going to be dismissed. No official decree on his dismissal has been signed yet.