CONFLICT
Zwei Jahre Russlands Krieg gegen die Ukraine
February 9, 2024 - Knapp zwei Jahre sind vergangen, seit russische Truppen am 24. Feb 2022 über die Grenzen in die Ukraine einmarschiert sind. Das militärische Patt zwischen Ukraine und Russland zeigt keine Anzeichen eines Endes.
In the latest twist, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Gen. Zaluzhnyi -- a hugely popular military chief trusted by Ukrainian soldiers and the public -- has led Ukraine’s war effort since the conflict began.
In a Telegram post sent shortly before the formal announcement, Zelensky said he met with Zaluzhnyi and “discussed what kind of renewal the Armed Forces of Ukraine need.”
“The time for such a renewal is now,” Zelensky wrote.
Differences between the two leaders appeared to towards the end of last year, after Zaluzhnyi said the war had reached a stalemate in an interview with The Economist magazine in November.
The army chief warned that without a tremendous technological leap forward, “there will most likely be no deep and beautiful breakthrough,” but instead an equilibrium of devastating losses and destruction.
Zaluzhnyi’s replacement is Oleksandr Syrskyi, who, since 2019, has served as the Commander of Ukrainian Land Forces.
- The bridge to Crimea is crucial to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine and to asserting Moscow’s control (Associated Press)
- Zelensky sacks Ukraine's commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi (BBC)
- Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline (Commons Library Research Briefing)
- Putin offers citizenship to foreigners who fight for Russia (Reuters)