In times of a lack of military aid and a shortage of ammunition at the front, President Zelensky is changing the military leadership. A decision that is not viewed positively everywhere in Ukraine.
A new military leadership – in the middle of the war. Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also named new deputies to his commander-in-chief. But many people criticize the change in military leadership.
Maria Harpun from Kiev, for example, is disappointed. She neither supports nor understands the president’s decision: “We trust Zalushny and I cannot say that this decision was anything improved or necessary to prevent stagnation. If we lose our country because of this decision, we will never forgive it .”
A native Russian now leads the Ukrainian army
Despite the discontent among the population, 58-year-old Oleksandr Syrskyj is now at the head of the Ukrainian military. A look at social networks shows that for many people the mere fact that the new guy received military training in Moscow is enough to distrust Syrskyj.
It is part of the irony of this war that a man born near Moscow is supposed to lead Ukraine through the third year of the war. Not an easy task, says retired Ukrainian general Ihor Romanenko: “The Russians are on the rise and introducing a new team takes time. Even considering that Syrskyj has experience.” But not only Syrsky has a new position, the Chief of General Staff has also been replaced: “The whole team is being changed. It will take some time until they know their new tasks. That is a risk.”
Syrskyj’s reputation is controversial. He has a long career in the military, is experienced in war and is responsible for decisive successes at Kiev and Kharkiv. But some also refer to him disparagingly as “the butcher”. It was Syrsky who stuck to the defense of the city of Bakhmut. Thousands of Russian Wagner mercenaries were killed in the fighting – but many Ukrainian soldiers also lost their lives in the unsuccessful defense of the city.
A tactic that Syrskyj still sticks to today. He said in January that the Ukrainian army’s goals remained unchanged: “Hold our positions, hold our territory, exhaust the enemy with maximum losses, conduct active defense by seizing the initiative. We do that every day.”
Military leadership is in charge difficulties
Oleksandr Syrskyj is taking on a difficult legacy. His decisions and successes are compared to those of the popular Saluzhny. And this at a time when there is no military aid from the USA and there is a massive shortage of ammunition at the front.
Ihor Romanenko still expects some offensive operations: “We have means to conduct a strategic defense on a front length of 1,500 kilometers. But Syrskyj will require his subordinates to carry out counterattacks and even offensives in this area where there are weak points of the enemy, as well as sufficient resources and reserves.”
He now has to prove that he is capable of asking the president unpleasant questions, says Romanenko. The relationship between Zelensky and the new commander-in-chief is considered close. And Zelensky absolutely needs military success after the Ukrainians’ failed summer offensive. Syrsky will have to manage the shortage of soldiers and material over the next few months – and win the trust of the Ukrainian people.
Rebecca Barth, ARD Kiev, tagesschau, February 11, 2024 10:23 p.m