Zelensky awards Hero of Ukraine title to former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhyni and military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov

General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who served as the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's military until his dismissal on Thursday, has been awarded the title Hero of Ukraine by Volodymyr Zelensky.

The decree, which was published on the Ukrainian president’s official site, says the award is a recognition of Zaluzhnyi’s “outstanding personal contributions to defending Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity” and his “selfless service to the Ukrainian people.”

Zelensky also awarded the title to Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. The Ukrainian outlet Strana.ua notes that Budanov was discussed as a potential successor to Zaluzhnyi before the general was replaced by Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was previously the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces.

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