From leader to legend: “Iron General” Zaluzhnyi – how he changed the face of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the world stage

He is called a new type of military leader who has not studied in any Russian or Soviet military school. Zaluzhnyi’s education is entirely in Ukrainian military universities: he first studied at the Odesa Institute of Land Forces, then studied at the National Defense Academy, and then entered the Ivan Chernyakhovsky National Defense University of Ukraine. As the best graduate of the operational and strategic level of training, he was awarded the Queen of Great Britain’s Transitional Sword. In 2020, he completed his master’s degree at Ostroh Academy. It should be added that the general received all his diplomas with honors.

In addition, by the time he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he had gone through all the stages of his military career. Zaluzhnyi is also the only commander-in-chief who has been actively involved in military operations: since July 2014, he has been involved in the defense of Donbas, started as a deputy commander and reached the position of Chief of Staff of the Joint Forces.

Given his experience and education, it is clear that the commander-in-chief is not a supporter of Soviet military traditions. Instead, he is a consistent supporter of NATO.

Zaluzhnyi has been a consistent advocate of the idea that reforms in the army should come from the top: “The general course of reforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine in accordance with NATO principles and standards remains irreversible. And the key here is the principles. Changes must take place first and foremost in the outlook and attitude towards people. I would like you to turn around and face the people, your subordinates. My attitude towards people has not changed throughout my career,” he once said.

Thanks to his positions, attitude and views, he gained respect among the military. In particular, journalist, politician, public figure, and above all, today’s military officer Tetiana Chornovol confidently calls him “my commander.”

“General Zaluzhnyi, because of his actions, charisma, and talent, has gained the status of ‘my commander’ for many, many military men. He is our commander, a factor of military character and confidence. I know that he appreciates the combat result. This makes me want to do my best. Ukraine is fortunate to have a military commander who raises the morale of the army. He is in his place,” she says.

A symbol of Ukraine’s resilience

Zaluzhnyi is popular not only in the army and among the population of Ukraine, but also abroad, where he is perceived as a symbol of the resilience of the Ukrainian people in the most difficult times of war.

He was first named the “Iron General” by the American edition of Politico in April 2022 after the brilliant defeat of the Russian occupation forces in the Kyiv region.

“The general is the personification of a new generation of Ukrainian officers, which was formed during the 8-year war in Donbas and during exercises with NATO. The Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to change the authoritarian nature that was formed by Soviet military training,” the media emphasized at the time.

And in September 2022, the influential Time magazine put a portrait of Ukraine’s top military officer on the cover and authoritatively emphasized that the Ukrainian army would hardly have achieved such success without its commander. Zaluzhnyi became the first Ukrainian military man to be featured on the cover of the prestigious publication.

The British Financial Times noted that it was General Zaluzhny’s extraordinary decisions on the conduct of hostilities that helped Ukraine turn the tide of the war in its favor.

Meanwhile, retired British Colonel Glen Grant believes that it was Zaluzhnyi who was able to unite the military and became a great motivator for the entire Ukrainian nation.

Love for children and patches with baby Yoda

In his early interviews, the general said that he loves to communicate with children. That’s why every photo of him with a Ukrainian child goes viral. Zaluzhnyi also noted, despite the fact that, unfortunately, our children will know the enemy not from fairy tales, but as an absolute evil that must be fought, “We will kill them all!”

And in June 2023, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted a video of his work on military maps online. Vigilant Ukrainians saw an unusual patch on his uniform – a baby Yoda. This patch inspired a lot of creativity and controversy, but the analogy with Star Wars and the Jedi was noticed by everyone.

Meanwhile, the general’s personal life often goes unreported, as the family lives modestly. Zaluzhnyi has been happily married for over 20 years to Olena, a financier at Ukrgasbank before the war. The general considers his wife to be his closest person and true soul mate. The couple has two daughters.

He led successful military campaigns of Ukraine: defense of Kyiv, counteroffensive in Kharkiv region, liberation of Kherson.

At a time when everyone was watching in amazement as Ukraine fought against a much stronger enemy, including the defense of its capital, Zaluzhny said: “Kyiv will stand!” And he refused to blow up the bridges across the Dnipro River in Kyiv, which also played an important role in public confidence and ultimately in the defense itself.

“I appeal to commanders – take care of your personnel! Plan your operations carefully and respond immediately to changes in the situation! Human life is our highest priority. This is how we are fundamentally different from the enemy, who does not even take the bodies of their dead and is ready to cover our land with them to pave the way for an offensive,” the general said in his address in March 2022.

The victory in the battle for Kyiv, as well as the defense of northern Ukraine and Kharkiv, are considered to be the events that became the starting point for all further successes, including the fact that the coordinated actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to drive the occupiers out of Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions by the end of April 2022.

“His persistent training in the run-up to the invasion and savvy battlefield tactics in the early stages of the war helped the country repel the Russian onslaught,” the Times stated in its article on Zaluzhny.

Subsequently, the counteroffensive in Kharkiv region, when the Ukrainian military managed to drive the Russians out of the region, only fueled public faith and respect of foreign partners. Then the Ukrainian Armed Forces seized the moment and launched a lightning counteroffensive that forced the Russians to flee in a hurry, leaving behind military equipment and even personal belongings.

Release of Zaluzhnyi: what is known

On January 29, the information about the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi has appeared. However, the press secretary of the President of Ukraine Serhiy Nikiforov denied this.

Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, said that the government’s comments on the resignation of Valeriy Zaluzhnyi are a game with the people.

The ISW emphasized that Russian propagandists use rumors about the dismissal or resignation of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief for a number of information operations centered on Ukraine’s internal affairs.

On February 1, in an op-ed for CNN, Zaluzhnyi outlined the main tasks for 2024 for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, which may indicate his unwillingness to leave office.

In addition, the WP suggested that Bankivska Street has not yet elected a replacement for Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi, which indicates the president’s indecision.

On February 3, The Washington Post reported, citing two anonymous sources, that the Ukrainian government had informed the administration of US President Joe Biden of a possible decision to dismiss the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

On February 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he was considering replacing the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyy.

According to British Colonel Grant, Ukraine will lose a strong motivator if Zaluzhnyi is dismissed.

On February 8, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. Media releases from the press services of both commanders did not directly mention Zaluzhny’s resignation. Later, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov posted on Facebook, in which he emphasized the decision to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Later in the evening, in his address, President Zelensky clearly announced a change in Ukraine’s military leadership: Valeriy Zaluzhny will be replaced by Oleksandr Syrsky, who had previously been the commander of the Ukrainian Army.