Will Ukraine's leadership reset work?

Zelenskyy hints at ousting of popular military chief, but risks backlash amid dwindling munitions, delayed funding and Russian bombardment

Photo composite of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Valery Zaluzhny
Ongoing tensions between General Valery Zaluzhny, left, and President Zelenskyy have publicly ignited in a row over conscription
(Image credit: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images)

Ukraine is set for a major leadership reshuffle after Volodymyr Zelenskyy hinted he would replace the "extremely popular" head of the armed forces.

"A reset, a new beginning is necessary," the Ukrainian president told Italian national broadcaster Rai TV on Sunday, following reports that he had told the White House he would fire General Valery Zaluzhny, who rejected a request to step down. 

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Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.