Zelensky fires 15 generals... 'Butcher' Syrskyii appointed to lead Ukraine's army
As Chief of General Staff Valerii Zaluzhny is dismissed in Ukraine, he is replaced by Oleksandr Syrskyii, who is described as a 'tactical genius'.
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The view that President Zelensky might make critical changes to the Ukrainian army's command structure had been prominent in analyses by Western media for some time. The Ukrainian government announced that 15 high-ranking generals have been dismissed, and one of the country's most popular figures, Chief of General Staff Zaluzhny, was among those removed from his post.
The person appointed to replace Zaluzhny is Oleksandr Syrskyii, who has made a name for himself with the successes he has achieved in the war so far. Although Syrskyii has achieved successes on the front, he is a controversial figure due to the tactics he employs. The new Chief of General Staff is known by the nickname 'the butcher', which was given to him in the media specifically on the grounds that he 'does not care much about casualties'. Although Syrskyii's reputation is blended with fear, he has been one of the commanders against whom Russia has had the most difficulty achieving concrete success so far.
Zaluzhny, who was dismissed, had previously wanted to mobilize 500,000 men for the war, but Zelensky rejected this plan, citing the country's ammunition shortage. The US press wrote that Zelensky did not implement the mobilization plan because he feared large-scale protests.
The changes in duty were not made solely for military reasons. According to an analysis on the Kyiv Post news site, in addition to small-scale defeats on the front, corruption allegations linked to the army and organizational problems were influential in the decision. According to the BBC, the Ukrainian army has been shaken since the beginning of the war by allegations that commanders have released draft dodgers in exchange for money.
The most important issue facing the new Chief of General Staff is finding a way to manage the dwindling manpower and ammunition problems to be prepared for a possible Russian offensive that could begin in the spring months.
“HE SENT ME TO MY DEATH LIKE A PIECE OF MEAT…”
On the other hand, the name Syrskyii has also caused controversy. Al Jazeera reported that a soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "This man sent me to my death as if I were a piece of meat." The report also included the soldier's claim that soldiers who complained about corruption were sent to the most dangerous front-line points to be killed.