The words of the representative of the OP Igor Zhovkva criticizing the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny for his article in The Economist magazine indicate a gap between the military and civilian leadership in Ukraine.
The publication reacted to how Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Igor Zhovkva, commenting on Zaluzhny’s article in The Economist magazine, said that “the military should not make public what is happening at the front.”
“It was a powerful public rebuke that signaled a rift between military and civilian leadership at an already difficult time for Ukraine. The rift between the general and the president comes as Ukraine struggles militarily and diplomatically. Its operations along the clash have made no progress but have resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, and Ukraine faces increased Russian attacks in the east. At the same time, skepticism regarding assistance to Ukraine has grown in some European capitals and among members of the US Republican Party,” the publication says.
The publication believes that signs of a split appeared on Friday, when Zelensky's Office fired one of General Zaluzhny's first deputies, the commander of the Special Operations Forces, General Viktor Khorenko, without providing an explanation.
Journalists write that American military officers who worked with General Khorenko were surprised by the news of his removal and described their working relationship with him as “close and effective.”
The NYT writes that Khorenko's dismissal has puzzled many people, although "there are complaints within the ranks over what were perceived as politically oriented decisions on strategy, including the launch of an amphibious attack across the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine that has yet to secure a foothold on the Russian-controlled eastern bank rivers."
Let us recall that in his article Zaluzhny points out that the war with the Russian Federation has become positional, and five steps need to be taken to turn it around. Namely: to overcome the enemy’s advantage in the air, improve the ability to break through minefields, strengthen counter-battery warfare, ensure effective training of Ukrainian reserves and increase the effectiveness of electronic warfare.
Also in an interview with The Economist, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces noted that Western countries are still holding back from providing Ukraine with the latest weapons.
