KYIV - President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced Ukraine’s popular army chief with his ground forces commander on Feb 8, a huge gamble at a time when Russian forces are gaining the upper hand nearly two years into their war.

The shake-up ushering in a new military leadership follows months of speculation about a rift between Mr Zelensky and army chief, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, who many Ukrainians see as a national hero.

“As of today, a new management team takes over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” said Mr Zelensky in a statement.

He named Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi as the new head of the military.

Col-Gen Syrskyi, commander of the ground forces, takes the helm amid deep uncertainty as Kyiv awaits vital military aid from the United States that has been delayed by political infighting there for months.

With Ukraine struggling to rapidly reform its army mobilisation programme, the sacking of Gen Zaluzhnyi could deal a blow to the morale of troops along a 1,000km front.

It could also backfire politically, hurting Mr Zelensky’s ratings.

Polling surveys put the public’s trust in Gen Zaluzhnyi, known by some as the “Iron General”, at over 90 per cent – significantly higher than Mr Zelensky’s 77 per cent in late 2023.

The military shake-up unfolded over a series of statements in which Mr Zelensky said he had met Gen Zaluzhnyi to discuss changes to the military leadership.

He had asked the general to remain “on his team”, he said.

In his own statement, Gen Zaluzhnyi said he had an “important and serious conversation” with Mr Zelensky and that a decision had been made to change battlefield tactics and strategy.

“The tasks of 2022 are different from the tasks of 2024. Therefore, everyone must change and adapt to new realities as well. To win together too,” his statement said.

The two statements were published within moments of one another, suggesting that the two most prominent wartime figures in Ukraine had coordinated closely to put on a display of unity. REUTERS