Ukrainian troops battling on the eastern front responded with doubt to statements made by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting a potential restructuring in high-ranking roles, including within the military.

During a series of interviews conducted by Reuters, several unit commanders expressed that it would not be fitting to dismiss General Valerii Zaluzhnyi at this point in time. Zaluzhnyi holds the position of Ukraine’s highest military leader.

“The most popular (commanders) are those who are here, and who fight alongside the lads, who sit in the trenches,” said a 31-year-old anti-tank unit commander who asked to be introduced by his call sign, Tiger.

Tiger stated that the person in charge must guarantee the arrival of new troops and an increased quantity of drones, as requested by Zaluzhnyi.

A different soldier stated, “Any changes implemented by our government should aim to improve things, not make them worse.”

In a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in December 2023, it was found that 72% of Ukrainians would have a negative opinion of Zaluzhnyi being fired, while only 2% would view it positively.

During an interview with Italian state broadcaster Rai News 24 on Sunday, Zelenskyy stated that a reset is needed as he evaluates potential leaders for different sectors in Ukraine.

He stated that in order to succeed, we must all work together towards the same goal with confidence. We cannot lose hope and give up, but instead, we must maintain a positive mindset.

Vitalii Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, expressed disapproval of the potential dismissal of Zaluzhnyi. He stated that it was under the general’s guidance that “a significant number of Ukrainians have placed their trust in the armed forces.”

Klitschko expressed his concerns on social media that politics may take precedence over logic and the well-being of the country. As the mayor of Ukraine’s capital, he has been openly critical of Zelenskyy. In response, the presidency has accused Klitschko’s administration of being ineffective.

According to reports from Ukrainian and Western media, Zelenskyy requested the resignation of Zaluzhnyi last week, but the general declined. Zaluzhnyi has not made any public statements regarding these reports.

The relationship between him and the president has been becoming more strained ever since a highly-anticipated Ukrainian counterattack, aided by a variety of Western weapons, failed to make significant progress in areas occupied by Russia. This disappointment has affected their allies.

The Ukrainian leader has clashed with Zaluzhnyi’s proposal to increase military enlistment to 500,000 by 2024.

According to Reuters, soldiers in the Donetsk region, including numerous volunteers, have been engaged in full-scale war for two years. However, they have expressed their desire to no longer bear the sole responsibility for the ongoing conflict.

Ihor, a soldier, stated that mobilization is crucial due to our insufficient numbers and the enemy’s overwhelming advantage in soldier count.

It is believed that approximately 60%-70% of the initial 59th brigade is still actively serving. However, the brigade has been unable to fully replace those who have passed away, been wounded, or discharged for various reasons.

Mykola, who is 59 years old, stated that he planned to return home when he reached the age of 60, in accordance with the current regulations. He also expressed sympathy for younger soldiers who do not have the same opportunity.

He stated that it is important for everyone to comprehend that Ukraine as a whole is in a state of war, not just the individuals who have been actively fighting for the past two years.

According to local authorities, four individuals lost their lives and at least one was wounded due to Russian bombardment in Kherson city.

According to officials on the Telegram messaging app, a video shared by the regional prosecutor’s office on the site depicted a car that was completely burnt and had caught fire due to an explosion. The car contained two bodies.

The Russian military frequently attacks Kherson from the occupied areas on the eastern side of the major Dnipro River, which separates the region.

On Monday, Russia accused Ukraine of conducting a “monstrous” assault on a bakery located in a city in eastern Ukraine that is currently under Russian occupation.

The spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, referred to the incident in Lysychansk on Saturday as a “terrorist act” against peaceful infrastructure.

According to Russia, the incident resulted in the death of 28 individuals.

Before the invasion by Russia, Lysychansk had a population of approximately 110,000 residents. In the summer of 2022, it was taken over by Russian forces and is now located 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) away from Ukrainian-controlled territory.

There was no response from Ukrainian authorities regarding the assault.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have been blaming each other for carrying out assaults on civilian locations. Ukraine has been reporting numerous instances of Russian missiles and drones being launched at Ukrainian cities.

The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters contributed to the content of this report.

Source: voanews.com