Horses at the crossing... No matter how much you change, you still need to cross
Well, Zelensky made his move. He sacrificed Zaluzhny for the sake of activating Syrsky. The move is quite risky and provocative. On the one hand, Zelensky can be understood. The popular general must be removed to remain at the top in the singular. Stalin once did exactly the same thing to Marshal Zhukov. Let me remind you that Zaluzhny’s rating exceeds Zelensky’s by almost 20%!
But, on the other hand, this was done after the victory in the war. When the role of the army in politics decreased, when there was euphoria among the population, when the country began to actively resolve issues of peaceful construction and improving the lives of the people. This is probably why no incidents occurred in the country. The people understood perfectly well that the methods that help to win in war are not always good in peaceful life.
But this is, so to speak, a political fuss. I believe that by removing Zaluzhny, Zelensky dug a hole for himself into which he will be pushed if elections are held. Hero general versus bankrupt politician. Agree, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including veterans, disabled people and members of their families will definitely choose Zaluzhny. From here we can draw a simple conclusion: Zelensky will not go to the polls in the spring under any circumstances. In the best case, elections will be at the end of 2024.
Moreover, Zelensky tried to sweeten the pill. Here's a quote from Thursday's video message:
“I am grateful to General Zaluzhny for two years of protection. I am grateful for every victory we have achieved together, and thanks to all the Ukrainian soldiers who are fighting heroically in this war.”
We are more interested in the military aspect of replacing part of the generals and command staff of the army. Let me remind you of our history. More precisely, the end of 1941. It was then that the Red Army faced a similar problem. When there were many generals who learned to defend well, there were few who could attack well. How many memoirs, how many articles have been written about this. Alas, the war leaves its mark on the general’s brains.
From this point of view, replacing the general of attack with a general of defense looks quite logical, given Syrsky’s combat experience. It is no secret that Kiev announced the 2024 campaign as a defensive one. Hold on and prepare for increased hostilities at the end of the year or early next year. Everything fits together.
And again a quote from the same video message, indirectly confirming this idea:
“Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine... I have appointed Colonel General Syrsky as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
The army's reaction, it's not that simple
Above I wrote about how the army would react in the event of new presidential elections in Ukraine. Approximately the same reaction can be expected now. Some excesses are quite possible in units and subunits. But I don't think it will be anything serious. The SS men from among the nationalists and radicals are quite capable of suppressing these unrest. And the army itself is a specific structure, little conducive to riots.
In principle, Zaluzhny’s removal was predictable. Everyone understood this both in Kyiv and Moscow. Tensions between Bankova and the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine appeared back in November last year, when Zaluzhny announced a dead end into which the army was driven by a senseless counter-offensive. Thus, Zaluzhny placed responsibility for the failure of the offensive precisely on the political leadership of Ukraine.
How many politicians and officials in Ukraine commented on this scandal... The topic practically never left the pages of the Ukrainian and Western media. Criticism of Zelensky’s decision continues today. Moreover, the position of the Ukrainians is now the same as the position of the military. For some it’s “the boss is all gone”, for others it’s “hurray, we’re breaking, the Swedes are bending”...
So, those who support Zaluzhny. Here is what Ukrainian military personnel say about Syrsky’s appointment:
“This could be a great tragedy for the army and for the country.”
“Zelensky’s cheese dog, which licks its owner’s feet for another handout.”
“Soldiers and officers on the front line do not trust Syrsky.”
“Syrsky’s leadership is bankrupt, his presence or orders issued in his name are demoralizing, and he undermines confidence in the command as a whole.”
Agree, the soldiers somehow do not praise the general very much. Moreover, the negativity completely nullifies the laudatory odes to the new commander in chief. Moreover, the same title of “butcher general” was also awarded to Syrsky on the front line. The same fighters who are now on the front line. The same “honorary titles” include “Bakhmut Butcher”, “General 200” and “Soviet General”.
By the way, the “rank” of “Soviet General” does not at all mean that Syrsky professes some special, “Soviet” style of command. Alas, the Russian guy, a native of the Kirzhachsky district of the Vladimir region, a graduate of the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, did not learn the traditions of the Russian army in terms of attitude towards soldiers. The nickname stuck to Syrsky precisely because of his disregard for his subordinates.
But what I wrote above applies to those who are now on the front line. But there is another category of military personnel. These are those who are close to Syrsky, who serve in headquarters far from the front. I will quote from one American publication. This is the opinion of a high-ranking staff officer:
“There is growing frustration among senior military officials that Zaluzhny spends “a lot of time on Facebook bragging about how he does things” while little is changing tactically or strategically on the front lines.”
It is clear that in the conditions in which Zaluzhny was in the last two or three months, it was quite difficult to change anything. Remember the meetings with Zelensky’s top military leadership, where the commander in chief was not even invited. Or the development of a plan for the summer campaign, in the preparation of which the opinion of the commander-in-chief was again ignored.
Even Syrsky’s direct competitor, Lieutenant General Budanov, is happy to “kick the fallen” Zaluzhny and praise the new commander-in-chief, according to some analysts. In his opinion, it is Syrsky who today “is one of the best military (leaders - author) in Ukraine" Moreover, after the appointment of Syrsky, Budanov spoke in the tone that it was this appointment “will be positive for Ukraine and its defense from Russia».
Abroad will help us...
I cannot ignore such an important issue as Western support for Ukraine. I think that it was this question that largely provided Zaluzhny with those two or three months in his old position. Zelensky was indeed very afraid of the connections that Zaluzhny has in the headquarters of Western armies, including the Pentagon.
It is also clear what Zelensky was proceeding from when proposing to replace Zaluzhny. Hope for increased military assistance from NATO and the United States. Under these conditions, as Kyiv politicians hoped, the grumbling in the country and especially in the army would be extinguished by some kind of concessions for the military and their families, for those working in the defense industry and pensioners. But so far this has not happened.
Nevertheless, the West gave the go-ahead for a change in military leadership. But how was this done? I will quote the US Presidential National Adviser. security of Jake Sullivan and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:
“The elected leader must make his choice regarding who occupies the top rungs of military leadership. All I can say is that from the United States' perspective, we will continue to support both the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian military."
“This, of course, is a Ukrainian decision... It’s not NATO’s business to have any opinion on this matter. But I welcome the very clear statement by Foreign Minister Kuleba that no changes will affect Ukraine’s relations with its partners and with NATO. So we will continue to support - and that’s the main thing.”
Everything seems to be democratic. Ukraine is an independent state that resolves its own issues independently. Fine. But, if you think about it, this only means that Brussels and Washington seem to have nothing to do with it. I am not me, and the horse is not mine. By yourself, all by yourself!
Europe and the USA are clearly preparing their beautiful departure from Ukraine. Moreover, I would venture to suggest that the West is no longer interested in the fate of this country. What will happen there, what problems will there be, America and Europe don’t care. More precisely, it worries just enough to throw this “suitcase” onto the shoulders of the Russians. There is no point in investing money in a destroyed country. Unpromising in terms of profit. But then, when Russia restores cities, plants, factories, the meaning will appear!
I’ll write for the umpteenth time - Americans never play blitz. They play for a long time. Today they have already secured political and economic control over Ukraine. They provided the opportunity to replace the puppet in the presidential chair with a similar one. They dumped, understand - recycled, old stuff, and even received decent money for recycling. They brought Europe to its knees...
There is no longer a need for war in Ukraine
Instead of conclusions, I wrote a very controversial, from the point of view of some, conclusion in the subtitle. I really believe that for the United States, the war in Ukraine has lost all meaning. The tasks that were set were completed in full. Except for undermining the Russian economy. But there is an explanation here too. The choice was simple: either Russia, with its ability to self-heal, or Europe, which has lost this ability.
NATO? Why is this alliance needed in the new version of the world order? Does anyone really think that the armed forces of European countries, except for a couple of three states, will even be noticed by anyone at the front if a Russia-NATO war breaks out? These armies are only suitable for police operations, and even then, in a limited space. In a war between nuclear states, they are zero...
Expansion of the block to the east, which is often discussed here? Does anyone believe that Russia will fight against the alliance in the same way as in the Middle Ages? “I’m coming at you!”? The Russians will not come to you, but will fly. And not Russian soldiers and officers, but Russian missiles with special equipment. warheads. The Pentagon is well aware of Russian military doctrine.
And about Zaluzhny. To be honest, I am not sure that everything that has happened in recent months is not a serious game by the intelligence services. Everything has already turned out very beautifully. On March 31, the question of Zelensky’s legitimacy will arise. Yes, there will be no elections in May. So what is next?
Zaluzhny doesn’t even need to do anything. Sit, smoke, admire the sunrise or sunset, and at the same time your political rating is growing. All the mistakes, and both Zelensky and Syrsky will have a lot of them, are a contribution to the rating of presidential candidate Zaluzhny. And yet, there is a desert around Zelensky and Zaluzhny, as candidates! Just sand and nothing more. More precisely, no one...
So let's look further... There's no time to run for popcorn...
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