The first day after the replacement of the commander of the Ukrainian army turned out to be stormy. In social networks, Ukrainians react emotionally to the removal of Zaluzhny : mostly they express their gratitude to him - the expression "Thank you, Mr. General" has become the most common in the tapes. At the same time, people express anxiety about the very replacement of the commander in the middle of the war and, in fact, the personality of General Syrskyi. Most of all, in relation to Syrsky, his reputation as a "general who does not count on losses" is mentioned. However, there are those who believe that the Ukrainians created an idol from Zaluzhny in vain and attribute to Sirsky all the role in the unsuccessful operations (he gained the mentioned reputation mainly after the Bakhmut operation, commanding the Khortytsia anti-aircraft missile defense system); but some of the military also say the same about Debaltseva of 2015).
Donbas Realia (a Radio Liberty project) collected the first reviews of the Ukrainian military about this personnel change.
Iryna, an infantryman:
- Under Zaluzhnyi, there was confidence that decisions are made by professionals based on military, not political expediency. There is no such certainty now. It's not just that General Syrsky is trusted by fewer soldiers than General Zaluzhny. The fact is that Zaluzhnyi's release was preceded by a campaign to discredit the commander-in-chief and the Armed Forces.
The military were accused of an unsuccessful counteroffensive , although we did not announce it. The military was blamed for the failure of the mobilization, although the commander-in-chief is not responsible for the mobilization, but the commander-in-chief (President Volodymyr Zelenskyi - ed.) . The military were accused of the fact that there are many "scoops" in the army, although it is not our business to change laws and by-laws, but the Ministry of Defense and deputies' business.
"There are doubts that the decision to replace is balanced, logical and justified. And if it is someone's mistake or wishful thinking, we will pay for it with our lives."
It is not clear what Zaluzhnyi did wrong, what was the point of throwing mud at him and the entire army, what can Syrsky do in this situation. Accordingly, there are doubts that the decision to replace is balanced, logical and justified. And if it is someone's mistake or whim, we will pay for it with our lives.
Stas, Airborne assault troops:
- Personally, I am against the resignation of General Zaluzhnyi. He is the one who accepted this war, stopped the advance of the p***rivs, and in some directions the initiative passed to the Armed Forces! It is clear that this is a merit not only of him, but of all the Armed Forces, but it became possible precisely under his leadership. If Zaluzhny had been there in 2014, we would not have lost Crimea.
Andriy, Airborne Assault Troops:
- The solution is primarily political, not military. For civilians, Zaluzhny is the father of the nation, and for an ordinary soldier who does not get off the wheel of army life for two years, he is an ordinary general who speaks well and correctly, but acts in the coordinate system of "Soviet" generals.
"The entire statutory "Soviet" raised its head, the paper army returned, army serfdom - without the right to transfer and effectiveness in office"
Among military personnel in the basements of Orikhov, the forests of Kreminnaya, and the surroundings of Kupyansk, the replacement of the commander-in-chief is a common occurrence. Especially after the failed year of 2023. And I'm not talking about an unsuccessful counterattack. Soldiers, sergeants, officers wanted changes within the Armed Forces. Instead, the entire statutory "Sovietism" raised its head, the paper army returned, dubious profit-making schemes, failure in the planning of the operation at the division-platoon level, careless attitude to the professional qualities of personnel, army serfdom - without the right to transfer and efficiency in the post.
We lost 2023. First of all, people. Valuable volunteers who will no longer be in such numbers as they were in 2022. We spent time building reserves and didn't think about the defensive line. What can we say about the staffing of brigades and the expansion of positions that would contribute to efficiency and combat capability.
The current general layer in the Armed Forces is not modern military management. Unfortunately. The new Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi is no exception. We are trampling in place at the cost of losing the best people in this country.
Bohdan, a soldier of the Ground Forces:
- The only thing I can say is that I and my colleagues, who deliberately joined the ranks of the Armed Forces, continue to fulfill their official duties. Our business is the destruction of the enemy, protection of the state, sovereignty and people of Ukraine. Nothing will change that.
Andriy, a participant in the defense of Bakhmut:
- The resignation of Zaluzhnyi does not hurt as much as the appointment of Syrskyi. A general who professes the Soviet school. The commander who is accused of the ridiculous failed defense of Soledar and Bakhmut, and now Avdiivka... For whom the life of a soldier is absolutely unimportant. What is not a fact that understands at least some strategy, except - "must hold at any cost".
Oleksiy, gunner:
- The attitude towards the resignation of Zaluzhnyi, both personally and in our artillery unit, is extremely negative. Under the command of General Zaluzhny, the Armed Forces stopped the Russian offensive near Kyiv, de-occupied Kyiv region and Chernihiv region, although they were forced to leave Kherson, but returned it. Kharkiv Oblast was liberated, Donetsk and Zaporizhia Oblasts were prevented from being captured completely. And this despite the fact that in terms of all types of weapons and the amount of ammunition, the enemy had a tenfold advantage.
"The attitude towards the resignation of Zaluzhnyi, both personally and in our artillery unit, is extremely negative"
I can judge by my division: in our direction, for 1-2 shells fired by us, there were at least 10 enemy ones (a significant advantage of the enemy). They also have an advantage over unmanned aerial vehicles - dozens of "Orlans" and "Lancets" are flying, while our UAVs are jammed with REBs. The Armed Forces are experiencing a shortage of weapons, ammunition, and people.
The Law of Ukraine "On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization" clearly defines that the president, prime minister, ministries and central authorities, as well as local self-government bodies, are primarily responsible for mobilization in the country. The military is also responsible, but they are on their last legs, let's say. The president and his henchmen (some with Russian connections) failed to mobilize at a time when the country was choking on blood and in need of military resources.
Zelenskyi tried to shift the blame to Zaluzhnyi. The reasons why the president fired the general are clear to me: the first and most important is the Russian trail. The Russians could not capture us from the outside, they decided to weaken the country from the inside. And the second reason is that Zelensky wants to be number one in the world! Be a hero! Although he has nothing to do with any military operation. I believe that this is the most important mistake of Zelensky, which will cost him the trust of the people. And, unfortunately, it can cost thousands of dead soldiers and new losses of territory.
"I believe that this is the most important mistake of Zelensky, which will cost him the trust of the people"
I think that the servicemen will not forgive Zelensky for this, no matter how much he travels around Avdiivka and other hot spots and no matter how many orders and medals he gives out. There are many traitors in Kyiv who would be happy to do as the Ukrainian Ivan Nis did in 1708. This Prylut Cossack foreman, who defended the surrounded Baturyn, sent a messenger to Menshikov and offered to lead the enemy soldiers through the secret passage of the Baturyn fortress. And, after Menshikov's consent, he did so. Then the bastards burned Baturin and destroyed all living things.
Another negative for Ukraine is that the trust of Western partners will fall to the president (read Ukraine), because Zelensky clearly made it clear to the world that even in the conditions of a brutal and bloody war with a numerically and qualitatively superior enemy, his personal interests are more important to him.
Scout, southern direction:
"If the new one gives what Zaluzhny could not, then it will be ok, but if not - then "I'm sorry", that's what it should be"
- Zaluzhny is a cool general, he served with some guys at the Donetsk airport (my acquaintances), the man is tired, that's for sure. As for replacing it with Syrskyi, I will not comment here, because I have not heard anything good or bad about the system. If the new one gives what Zaluzhny could not, then it will be ok, but if not, then I "xz", what should be.
Scout, southern direction:
- Am I for the fact that he is being replaced - I will definitely not say that I am against, since I do not know all the reasons. But I would like him to stay further.
Sergeant of the Armed Forces, requests not to be named:
- The biggest problem in the army remains the "scottish" attitude towards people on the part of the commanders. Industrious - he was humane. Syrsky, who epitomizes this "scottish" attitude towards his subordinates, shot at least one brigade commander with shouts: "What, the man felt sorry?!" We, the military, are waiting for crazy losses without any result. And there is a risk that the military will simply physically run out, and the front will collapse.
Mykola, a soldier of the Ground Forces:
- It's bad. Many of our people died because of him (Syrsky - ed.) . He will simply let everyone eat.
Oleg, a soldier of the mechanized brigade:
- Now I will definitely have to serve everyone. Because we will soon be done with his "meat assaults".
Valentyn, a soldier of the Ground Forces:
- The production of weapons and ammunition will not increase as a result of the change in the person in the position of head of state. It is not the person in office that plays a role, but the system work of the rear, which is weak in our country. Therefore, my attitude is neutral. But to devalue the role of Valery Fedorovych at the initial stage is a crime against conscience.
Oleksiy, officer of the Armed Forces:
"Probably, the authorities do not know how to be guided by the interests of the state, but almost exclusively by their own"
- I believe that this is a political move to remove a figure with a maximum and growing rating. Probably, the government does not know how to be guided by the interests of the state, but almost exclusively by its own. Only time will tell how and whether the situation at the front will change as a result of this replacement.
Kostyantyn, Russian Defense Forces (radiation, chemical and biological protection)
- If we talk specifically about the mobilized, then for the most part they do not think much about resignation, because now they have a more urgent problem. The authorities are trying to push through the law, which again does not have a clear term of service (it is a new version of the law on mobilization - ed.), and the words about 36 months are nullified by the wording in which they were inserted.
"Not only that, in the best case, they have to wait for another year, but also (in particular, from Zaluzhny's submission) even after 36 months, they may still not let go, as much as the bet wants."
That is, it is not enough that they still do not demobilize even those who have served 2 years, it is not enough that in the best case they have to work for another year, but also (in particular, from Zaluzhny’s submission) even the cannibalistic 36 months they wrote so that after in fact, they may not be released as long as the Stavka wants. Therefore, the primary focus now is on ensuring that the draft law reaches the second reading, even if it takes 36 months, without additional terms and conditions.
Even those who came as volunteers, and even came from abroad for this purpose, are shocked by the fact that they are being held for so long and do not think of letting them go. And it will be possible to form an opinion about the resignation only after we see the successor in action.
Dmytro, a soldier of the ZSU
- Zaluzhnyi is undoubtedly a key figure in our war against the Russians. He is a heroic commander-in-chief who went down in history as a general who stopped the onslaught of the second army in the world, destroying all the plans of the Kremlin's obsessed grandfather to occupy our country.
"Deserving, certainly, a heroic commander-in-chief who went down in history, and certainly, I'm sorry. But General Syrsky is also a part of this path"
Of course, I'm sorry. But General Syrsky is part of this path, which we are still on.
For me, nothing has changed since February 24, when people lined up at the TCC and went to the Ground Forces to defend the capital and beat the enemy in the northern direction, where Syrsky was the commander.
Because surnames were secondary. The priority was and is completely different. Everyone worked for success at the front and victory, rejoiced at the successes and failures of the Russians. And as soon as the threat was somewhat repelled, some changed their appreciation and faith in the Armed Forces for expert opinion and criticism.
Although it is logical that after the resignation of the commander-in-chief, the most experienced general, who commands the most involved in the war, moves to his place.
