Zaluzhny spoke about the riot: how will the military react to the resignation of the commander-in-chief

The SBU commented on Zaluzhny’s possible resignation. Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on National Security, SBU Colonel Roman Kostenko said that “the dismissal of the commander-in-chief will provoke a split in Ukrainian society.” “MK” is looking into whether a revolt in the army is possible if Zaluzhny resigns and whether this is due to the delay in the decision to dismiss the commander-in-chief.

In addition to Kostenko’s statement, Ukrainian Telegram channels are also reporting possible negative consequences, citing sources. They say that Zaluzhny’s resignation could cause discontent in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, the military is aware that the situation with a possible riot against Zelensky will play into Russia’s hands and worsen the situation both at the front and in the eyes of Western partners. In order to prevent the possibility of disobedience, the President’s Office is going to purge all military leadership that was oriented towards Zaluzhny, and leave only generals loyal to Zelensky. That is why there were rumors about the resignation of Moysyuk, Balan, Zabrodsky and Shaptal.

The commander-in-chief himself indirectly hinted at the possible resignation of Zaluzhny’s closest associates. On his social networks, he published a joint photo with Sergei Shaptala with congratulations. “It will still be very difficult for us, but we will definitely never be ashamed again,” he wrote on his social networks. Shaptala is considered Zaluzhny’s closest associate.

At the same time, according to Ukrainian experts, Bankova is now busy looking for a legitimate reason for Zaluzhny’s resignation. Former people’s deputy Igor Mosiychuk (recognized as an extremist in Russia) stated that Zelensky is deliberately delaying the resignation of the commander in chief. “They want to fire him at an advantageous information moment. Which? Avdeevka. The loss of Avdiivka and the encirclement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Avdeevka will cause Zaluzhny’s resignation. They will show society: look, he made a mistake, he is guilty,” explains Mosiychuk. Another possible reason could be an audit of the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the past two years, which was announced by the adviser to the head of Zelensky’s Office, Mikhail Podolyak. He added that personnel decisions will be made based on the results of the inspections.

Negative assessments of the decision to resign Zaluzhny are given by both the Ukrainian military and Western media. Ukrainian general Sergei Krivonos said that Zaluzhny’s resignation was not necessary: ​​“As for the president’s statement that he is thinking about replacing the leadership of Ukraine, I would like to hope that he has thought to himself.” “Zelensky’s rhetoric is focused on returning to the 1991 borders. Zaluzhny considers this a complete illusion. He soberly assessed the military capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and gave the order to go on the defensive,” military expert Folvgang Richter said in an interview with a German TV channel.

And one of the most striking assessments was the material of the British newspaper Times. In it, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, was called an “iron general,” in whom Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, as “the best salesman in the country,” saw a competitor. According to journalists, there is a “not too restrained struggle for power” in Ukraine, which could “recoil Western allies.”

Let us recall that Zelensky earlier said in an interview that he was thinking about Zaluzhny’s resignation. After this, Verkhovna Rada deputy Yevgeny Shevchenko said that the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny agreed to the post of ambassador to the UK. “We know that the people who were sent as ambassadors were a political pension; no one ever came back, this is a tradition in Ukraine,” the people’s deputy added.

Is a riot possible because of Zaluzhny’s resignation and why is Zelensky so slow in making decisions? We asked this question political expert, journalist of the publication “Ukraina.ru” Vasily Stoyakin:

“The formal reason for resignation has already been found – this is the failure of the counteroffensive. Zaluzhny himself spoke about it, according to sources. However, Zaluzhny is now one of the highest-rated people in Ukraine, and, accordingly, it is necessary to carry out preliminary information and psychological processing. To catch up with all sorts of horrors and horrors in order to discredit the commander in chief. First of all, they are trying to associate an unpopular mobilization with it. Zaluzhny himself reacted to this attempt, who in his last article pointed out that in fact so many people are not needed.

I would not predict what exactly the discontent of the public and the military will be expressed in. It seems to me that they will drink and calm down. But if I were Zelensky, which I, fortunately, will never find myself in, I would take some precautions just in case. For example, the resignation of close generals. However, it is very unlikely that all this together will lead to disorganization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. To a large extent, Ukrainian generals are following the instructions of their Western partners.

As for Zaluzhny’s possible post, this is an interesting phenomenon, because until now it was believed that he was an American protege. The fact that he could be sent as ambassador to the UK was said by a representative of a group that is close to the head of the GUR Budanov. But Budanov himself is considered an English man, and their relationship with the commander-in-chief is tense. Apparently, both in England and the USA there are different groups with different interests, some of which are betting on Zaluzhny, while others are not.”