POLITICO: Ukrainian armed forces negatively perceive appointment of new commander-in-chief

The greatest military shakeup in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion just happened: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced top commander Gen. Valery Zaluzhny with Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the former ground forces chief.

The appointment of Oleksandr Syrskyi as army chief was negatively received by Ukrainian servicemen, POLITICO reports.

In a Telegram statement, Zelenskyy thanked Zaluzhny for defending Ukraine over the last two years and asked him to remain on the team.

Two Ukrainian officials told NatSec Daily that Zaluzhny’s next move is unclear. He has many offers on the table and has to choose if he would like to further serve in the administration. There’s speculation that Zaluzhny, should he leave government, could mount a political challenge to the current president. Media reports indicate Zaluzhny could also focus on his health and turn to a teaching career.

The question now is what Syrskyi, 58, brings to the war. Most notably he helped defend Kyiv against Russia’s onslaught and orchestrated a successful counteroffensive in Kharkiv.

But Syrskyi’s also known for leading forces into a meat grinder in Bakhmut, sending wave after wave of troops to face opposition fire. In the end, Kremlin-backed Wagner Group mercenaries captured the city.

For that and other reasons, Syrskyi is deeply unpopular with Ukraine’s rank-and-file.

“Very bad decision,” a Ukrainian military captain told NatSec Daily. The captain, like others, was granted anonymity to avoid retaliation or to provide their unvarnished opinion.

Another person knowledgeable of Syrskyi’s operations echoed that view. His appointment is unlikely to have a positive effect for Ukraine, as Syrskyi is seen by those on the frontlines as a stern Soviet-style general who callously puts his men in danger.

The negative reviews keep pouring in: “General Syrski’s leadership is bankrupt, his presence or orders coming from his name are demoralizing, and he undermines trust in the command in general,” a Ukrainian military officer posted on X. “His relentless pursuit of tactical gains constantly depletes our valuable human resources, resulting in tactical advances such as capturing tree lines or small villages, with no operational goals in mind.”

Ukraine’s general staff did not return a request for comment on the criticisms. Zelenskyy, of course, voiced confidence in Syrskyi, calling him Ukraine’s “most experienced commander.”