Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggested that AFU Ground Forces Commander, Col Gen Oleksandr SyrskyI, can replace Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi from the AFU Commander-in-Chief post.
Syrskyi was offered to replace Zaluzhnyi from the AFU CinC post
The AFU Ground Forces Commander, Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, rejected the offer of the Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to replace Valerii Zaluzhnyi from the AFU Commander-in-Chief post.
According to senior officers, Zaluzhnyi was summoned to a one-on-one meeting with Zelenskyy on Monday, January 29, where he told the president's advisers that their assessments of the military situation were "more positive than realistic."
He was reportedly asked to resign that day, according to three sources. When he refused, Zelenskyy said he would sign a decree for his release.
The sources said that after Zaluzhniy told his subordinates he was leaving, senior commanders and international partners, including the United States and Britain, expressed concern. So Zelenskyy was forced to "rescind his decision under pressure from top-ranking officials and international partners."
What is being said in Ukraine about Zaluzhny's possible resignation
On January 29, information about the alleged resignation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, was circulated online.
Ukraine's MOD and the president's press secretary have already made official statements.
Journalist Roman Tsymbalyuk wrote that Zaluzhnyi was allegedly dismissed, and the DIU chief, Lieut Gen Kyrylo Budanov, was appointed as the new AFU CinC.
Former MP Boryslav Bereza, referring to his sources in the office of the President of Ukraine, also reported that Zaluzhnyi was dismissed.
Incumbent MP Oleksiy Goncharenko wrote that Zaluzhnyi was allegedly announced to resign, but there is no decree yet. MP claims that Zaluzhnyi was offered the ambassador position to one of the European countries but refused.
Amid these reports, Ukraine's MOD published a post stating that the media reports are false.
Citing its sources, Interfax Ukraine reports that the agreement on Zaluzhnyi's resignation was reached during his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, the president's speaker, Serhii Nikiforov, said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not dismiss the AFU CinC Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
