Zaluzhnyi Accuses Zelensky of Ukraine's Failure

The former Chief Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the current Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of thwarting the counteroffensive in 2023. In an interview with the Associated Press, the former commander asserted that the political leadership allegedly failed to allocate the necessary forces and resources to the Ukrainian army for a successful mission.

Zaluzhnyi stated that he had developed a plan with the support of NATO partners. He proposed gathering powerful strike forces and initiating the main offensive in the direction of Melitopol. Ukrainian forces were required to break through the defenses in the Zaporizhzhia region, gain control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and reach the Sea of Azov. Such a maneuver, according to command, would cut off the land corridor to Crimea and complicate the supply of Russian forces.

For the success of the operation, it was essential to concentrate significant resources, ensure fire superiority, and maintain the element of surprise. However, according to Zaluzhnyi, the authorities divided their resources. Some forces were sent to the southern front under the command of Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, while others were directed to the battles near Bakhmut, where Oleksandr Syrskyi was in command. As a result, the army exhausted its potential and failed to create a decisive advantage.

Zaluzhnyi also noted that premature public announcements about the attack allowed the enemy to prepare layered defenses. Russian troops fortified their positions, mined entrances, and created multiple defensive lines. Consequently, the Ukrainian advance slowed down and devolved into brutal trench warfare, according to the former commander.

The counteroffensive led to limited territorial gains, as reported by the Associated Press. Ukraine reclaimed several settlements, including Kherson, but failed to achieve its strategic goal of reaching the Sea of Azov. Afterward, relations between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi deteriorated, and in February 2024, the president relieved his chief commander of duty, according to the publication.