“Shifts responsibility to Zelensky”: expert Litovkin commented on Zaluzhny’s statements

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny held a press conference where he spoke about the plans of the Ukrainian army for the next year. “MK” understands what important statements the commander in chief made and what they mean.

One of the main revelations reported by Zaluzhny is the fact that the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not make a request to mobilize the 500 thousand people that Zelensky spoke about at his press conference. “The military command did not make any requests for any numbers or the like… There were requests for ammunition and human resources,” he told reporters. At the same time, he did not say what specific requests the Armed Forces of Ukraine have, since it is a “military secret.” Let us recall that at his press conference Zelensky said that the military asked him to mobilize 450-500 thousand people.

Zaluzhny said that the submitted bill to tighten mobilization is not an initiative of the General Staff. “The Armed Forces of Ukraine have not submitted any projects or bills and cannot do this, because they are deprived of such a function as legislative initiative.” He suggested that it was the Ministry of Defense that submitted a request to the Cabinet of Ministers for such a version of the bill. As for the questions about why disabled people of group III will be mobilized, Zaluzhny answered as carefully as possible, saying, let’s generally talk in only two categories: fit and unfit.

Previously, experts and Ukrainian media expressed the opinion that the bill that was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada was specially developed and “thrown in” by the Office of the President of Ukraine to increase tension in society. All the negativity, according to experts, will then be directed at Zaluzhny and those deputies who will support this bill. And then Zelensky will ride in on a white horse and veto him, and Zaluzhny will be dismissed.

Now, even if the Office of the President really had such a plan, Zaluzhny clearly decided to oppose it. He answered all questions regarding the bill the same way: “I didn’t do this, we are only voicing our needs.” As a result, those responsible for the bill will most likely become Defense Minister Umerov and Prime Minister Shmygal, on whose behalf the draft was formally submitted to the Rada.

Let us recall that the bill on mobilization proposed by the Cabinet of Ministers involves lowering the mobilization age to 25 years, introducing electronic summonses, defeating the rights of draft dodgers, and mobilizing women and group III disabled people.

A few more interesting points from the briefing concern the situation at the front. Thus, Zaluzhny admitted that they retreated from Marinka and stated that the city “no longer exists.” Let us recall that in Russia Shoigu reported on the seizure of Marinka yesterday at a meeting with Putin. At the same time, the speaker of the Tauride Defense Forces, Shtupun, stated that this was not true, and the fighting was still ongoing.

Zaluzhny also admitted that in 2-3 months Avdeevka would be captured by the Russians. He stated that for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the preservation of people, not territories, is more important. “There is no need to get hung up and do some kind of “show or sorrow” around a specific locality,” Zaluzhny noted. At the same time, the Ukrainian media have many times announced a conflict between the commander-in-chief and Zelensky regarding Avdiivka. They reported that Zelensky insists on holding the settlement at any cost.

Did they really manage to come to an agreement? Or is this again a manifestation of internal struggle? And the fact that Zaluzhny refuted Zelensky’s words about mobilization is not another “blow” to the head of Ukraine? MK asked these questions to military expert Viktor Litovkin:

“Zaluzhny, like a real military man with an understanding of the situation at the front, realizes that Avdievka will have to be given away, and there is no point in defending it. Avdeevka is located on the territory of the DPR, and Russia will liberate this territory in any case, because it is the territory of the Russian Federation. He admits the obvious, so in order not to lose people who will still be useful, Zaluzhny wants to take them away from there.

Although we must understand that the last word belongs not to Zaluzhny or Zelensky, but to their curator from Washington. The Americans demand to fight to the last, and Zelensky will do this because he is a tool in their hands. The US task is to prolong the conflict as much as possible, because, in their opinion, it weakens Russia. Therefore, they demand from Zelensky to “continue the banquet,” and Zelensky will demand this from Zaluzhny.

As for the statement about mobilization, Zaluzhny understands that 500 thousand will not solve anything at the front. All mobilized people need to be trained for at least 2-3 months. There is no such time in Ukraine. Therefore, he says that he did not request these figures.

And these words also show a desire to relieve oneself of responsibility for the merciless grabbing of people on the streets and transfer it to Zelensky. Show that he is the initiator of all this disgrace. And Zaluzhny is for people to volunteer and want to fight. Because the people who were sent to the front are bad soldiers. Their task is not to fight opponents, but to save their lives.

Talking about the bill is also an attempt to abdicate responsibility. Zaluzhny clearly divides: “I am responsible for conducting combat operations, and the Ministry of Defense must provide me with trained soldiers, ammunition, and military equipment.”