Zelensky slammed the move as “serfdom,” and ordered the military not to take such steps without his approval.Įfforts were made to halt the disagreements, but the outline of a potential rift was obvious. Then came a public dispute in July 2022, when the General Staff prohibited Ukrainians eligible for military service from changing their place of residence without permission from the military authorities.

The first sign was a conflict over the establishment of Zaluzhny’s own charitable foundation, which was seen as an attempt to create the foundations for a political project.

The first whispers of disagreements between the commander in chief and the president appeared in the spring–summer of 2022, once the Ukrainian capital was no longer under direct threat and the initiative at the front had passed to the Ukrainian side. Time magazine included him-along with Zelensky-in its list of the most influential people on the planet, while Politico said he would “enter Ukrainian military lore as a historic figure.” They became a symbol of the unity of the civilian and military authorities in saving the country. Zaluzhny held meetings with military bloggers and volunteers, and in December 2021 he appointed Dmitry Yarosh, the former leader of the ultranationalist Right Sector organization, his advisor.įollowing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the popularity of both Zelensky and Zaluzhny skyrocketed. He managed to establish contacts with paramilitary and nationalist circles that were distrustful of Zelensky. The general also showed political talent that he tried not to advertise. The new commander in chief was not afraid to transfer the initiative to lower-level commanders, and gave permission to soldiers fighting in the Donbas combat zone to return fire without seeking authorization from the senior leadership. Zaluzhny immediately began working to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses and intensify military cooperation with NATO. Zelensky and his chief of staff Andriy Yermak chose Zaluzhny to replace his unpopular predecessor, Ruslan Khomchak-who was also in constant conflict with the Defense Ministry-because he was a good fit for the system overhaul taking place: he was young and had come up through the army ranks of an independent Ukraine, and advocated for the implementation of NATO military standards. General Zaluzhny took up his post in July 2021, at a time when tensions with Russia were growing and Zelensky was seeking to improve his poor standing in the military. The most dangerous fault line is that between the civilian and military authorities, personified by President Volodymyr Zelensky and Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny. The longer the fighting drags on, the more tempting it is to look for someone to blame, and the more real the threat of internal destabilization. As the war in Ukraine reaches the end of its second year, not a trace remains of the former unity among the Ukrainian elite.

President as commander in chief