A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***After weeks of rumors, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally dismissed Valeriy Zaluzhny as the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces on February 8, 2024. Nearly two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, we asked four experts about the significance of this move, how it could affect Ukraine and its prospects in its war with Russia, and if this is the beginning of a broader shakeup in Zelensky’s government.Read more below.Eric Ciaramella Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program Carnegie Endowment for International PeacePresident Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to replace Valeriy Zaluzhny as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was the culmination of a long-simmering dispute between the two men about military strategy and politics. The rift deepened in November 2023, when Zaluzhny publicly admitted that the counter-offensive had failed. At the time, Zelensky was projecting confidence in Ukraine’s chances, hoping to secure additional Western aid. Zaluzhny’s statements complicated the politics of Ukraine aid in Congress, but it also forced Zelensky to acknowledge Ukraine’s challenges and pivot toward a more sustainable “active defense” strategy. In addition, Zelensky feared that Zaluzhny, a popular national figure, was preparing to challenge him for the presidency, although those concerns were largely overblown.Zaluzhny’s replacement, Oleksandr Syrsky, is seen as loyal to Zelensky and is well respected among Ukrainian officers, but many front line troops see him as a rigid, Soviet-style commander who is not sensitive to casualties. It is too early to say whether Syrsky’s appointment will affect Ukraine’s overall war strategy. Separately, there have been rumors of a wider government shakeup, including the replacement
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A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***After weeks of rumors, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally dismissed Valeriy Zaluzhny as the commander of Ukraine’s armed forces on February 8, 2024. Nearly two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, we asked four experts about the significance of this move, how it could affect Ukraine and its prospects in its war with Russia, and if
