Zelensky dismissed Zaluzhny from the army and appointed ambassador to London

President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the former commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valery Zaluzhny, from military service and by another decree appointed him Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UK.

Documentation about this, dated May 8 and 9, posted on the website of the President of Ukraine.

As they say in decree about dismissal from military service, Zaluzhny was dismissed for health reasons. It was previously reported that the verdict of unfitness for military service was made by a military medical commission, in connection with which it is not known.

Valery Zaluzhny headed the Armed Forces of Ukraine until the beginning of February of this year, when by decision of the president he was replaced by General Alexander Syrsky. The name of Zaluzhny was associated with Ukraine’s successes in repelling Russian aggression and counter-offensive in the fall of 2022. In public opinion polls, respondents in Ukraine spoke of their high level of trust in Zaluzhny, whose rating at one point exceeded Zelensky’s. The general himself, however, did not talk about any political ambitions.

At the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, reports began to appear in the media about disagreements and even a conflict between Zaluzhny and the Office of the President of Ukraine – against the backdrop of the summer offensive of the Ukrainian army that did not live up to expectations. The first message about his resignation appeared at the end of January, then it was not confirmed, but a week later Zaluzhny, like a number of his subordinates, was nevertheless removed from his post. He has not publicly commented on his resignation. After her, Zelensky awarded Zaluzhny the title of Hero of Ukraine.

In March, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced that Zaluzhny would be appointed Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK. The decree on his appointment, however, has only just been signed. So far there have been no reports that the British authorities have issued an agreman, that is, an agreement to accept him as an ambassador.

Zaluzhny remained silent on social networks for a long time and did not give interviews. A few days ago it became known that the Kyiv authorities awarded him the title of honorary citizen of the city. A photo of Zaluzhny with the mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko was published.