The President changed the composition of the Stavka and the National Security Council
10 February 2024 14:44
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, changed the composition of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the composition of the National Security and Defense Council. This is reported with reference to presidential decrees No. 67 and No. 68.
Zelenskyy introduced the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, to the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Also, by decree No. 67, the head of state removed Valery Zaluzhny from the Stavka.
By another decree, Zelensky introduced Syrsky to the National Security and Defense Council. At the same time, Valery Zaluzhny and former Minister of Veterans Affairs Yulia Laputin were removed from the NSDC.
Appointment of Syrskyi
On February 8, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi dismissed the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny and appointed General Oleksandr Syrskyi as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyi, Syrskyi has successful defense experience – he conducted the Kyiv defense operation, and successful offensive experience – the Kharkiv liberation operation.
The President believes that 2024 can be a successful year for Ukraine only if there are effective changes in the basis of our defense, which is the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, Zelensky changed the command of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Anatoliy Bargylevych was appointed as the new chief.
It should be noted that The Washington Post wrote that among the rank-and-file soldiers, Syrsky, who many consider a Soviet-style commander who kept the troops under fire in Bakhmut for too long when Ukraine was supposed to withdraw, is particularly disliked.
“This is a character like General Patton. He does not have the human resources gene in his body.”
said a person close to Zelenskyi.
As the publication notes, the departure of Zaluzhnyi, one of the most popular figures in Ukrainian society, could affect the morale of the troops and shake the confidence of Western donors, as the Ukrainian military tries to repel the advancing Russian forces. But any US move to challenge Zelenskyi’s decision can be seen as undue influence.
