What the change at the top of Ukraine's army signalled
A look back at the command reshuffle that came days before 12 February 2024, amid continuing Russian strikes.
What did Ukraine's leadership change mean for the country's war effort as of 12 February 2024? The question was live that day, four days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Valerii Zaluzhnyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 8 February 2024.
The dismissal followed months of rumours about a disagreement between the president and his top general. Oleksandr Syrskyi, until then Ground Forces commander, was appointed to replace Zaluzhnyi. The move put a new officer at the head of the armed forces, and the reported dispute between the two men was now resolved in the president's favour.
The war did not pause for the reshuffle. On 7 February 2024, the day before the dismissal, Russian forces launched a wave of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine. At least five civilians were killed and 11 others injured, including two in Kyiv.
Taken together, the two events framed the situation on 12 February 2024: a new commander-in-chief taking over while civilians remained under attack from the air. The immediate test for Syrskyi was to lead the armed forces through that continuing pressure.
