Kremlin says new Ukrainian commander won’t change conflict

MOSCOW – The Kremlin said on Feb 9 that Ukraine’s appointment of a new commander-in-chief would not lead to any changes in the nearly two-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Kyiv on Feb 8 removed its top commander, the popular armed forces chief Valery Zaluzhny, in the biggest shake-up of its military leadership since the start of the conflict in February 2022.

“We don’t think it’s a factor that will change the course of the special military operation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, using Moscow’s preferred term for its offensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky as the country’s new commander, an experienced general responsible for two of Ukraine’s biggest military achievements.

At the start of the conflict, he led the successful defence of Kyiv, scuppering Russia’s plans to seize the capital in a matter of days.

And later, he commanded Ukraine’s lightning Autumn 2022

counteroffensive in the north-eastern Kharkiv region

that expelled Russian troops from swathes of territory in an embarrassing setback for Moscow.

Mr Peskov also said on Feb 9 that Russia would continue its military campaign “until the goals have been achieved”.

The front lines have barely shifted in more than a year of fighting, and both sides have lost tens of thousands of soldiers.

Mr Zelensky said fresh military leadership was needed following 2023’s much-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive that fell flat.

Moscow has rejigged its military commanders on several occasions since the start of the offensive.

After the botched withdrawal from Kharkiv, Russia promoted notorious General Sergey Surovikin to oversee the campaign,

only to demote him

months later and put Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov in charge of the offensive. AFP