Ukraine’s ground commander declined offer to replace his boss as army chief, says source

KYIV - Ukraine’s ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi was offered the job of replacing his boss, G’eneral Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, as commander of the armed forces, but declined, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Jan 31.

Ukrainian media reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky asked General Zaluzhnyi, head of the Ukrainian army, to step aside this week, but that he refused.

His exit as army chief would represent a huge shake-up in the Ukrainian military, which is fending off multiple Russian attacks in the east as

uncertainty grows over the future of vital United States and European Union support.

The source, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, was unable to say exactly how or when the job offer was communicated to General Syrskyi.

The Ukrainian General Staff and president’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gen Zaluzhnyi is seen as a hero to many in Ukraine after his troops successfully defended Kyiv against Moscow’s forces at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly two years ago.

Ukrainian media have tipped Gen Syrskyi and military spy chef Kyrylo Budanov as two possible successors to Gen Zaluzhnyi.

Under Gen Zaluzhnyi’s command, Ukraine defied overwhelming odds to beat back Moscow’s initial offensive and then regained swathes of occupied territory later in 2022.

The defence of Kyiv and

a lightning advance in the north-eastern Kharkiv region

were overseen by Gen Syrskyi.

But Ukraine’s much-vaunted 2023 counteroffensive failed to make serious inroads into heavily-defended Russian positions in the occupied south and east.

It was not immediately clear how Kyiv’s allies in the West would view moves to replace Gen Zaluzhnyi, who retains overwhelming popularity in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said speculation about Gen Zaluzhnyi’s future reflects the problems Kyiv faces nearly two years into the war. REUTERS