Zelensky's Surprise Move to Replace Top Commander Raises Questions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol as commander of the joint forces of the country's military, shortly after questions were raised about his competency in the war against Russia.

On Monday, the Ukrainian leader announced during his nightly address to the nation that Sodol would be replaced by Brigadier General Andriy Hnatov. Zelensky didn't offer a reason for Sodol's dismissal. He was appointed commander of the joint forces in February.

The military reshuffle came after Bohdan Krotevych, chief of staff of the Azov National Guard Brigade, said on his Telegram channel Saturday that he had filed an official complaint with Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation, asking for a probe "into one military general, who, in my opinion, has killed more Ukrainian soldiers than any Russian general."

Krotevych didn't name Sodol, but local publication Ukrainska Pravda said its sources confirmed that Krotevych had "accused the general of abuse of power and incompetent command of the troops leading to the loss of a large part of Ukraine's territory."

Krotevych "requested an investigation into the [Sodol's] potential collaboration with Russia. The Azov Chief of Staff also said he was prepared to testify in the case," Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing its sources.

Newsweek has contacted Ukrainian authorities for comment by email.

In his post on Telegram on Saturday, Krotevych wrote that he didn't "care if they start an investigation against me.

"And I donʼt care if they put me in prison," he said. "I care that combatants and brigade commanders are judged for the loss of an observation post, but the general is not judged for the loss of regions and dozens of cities and the loss of thousands of soldiers.

"The conditions under which the brigades are currently fighting, I will say this, is unreal heroism, first of all, for soldiers, platoon commanders, companies, battalions and brigades. And their heroism lies in the fact that they restrain the enemy not thanks to, but in spite of."

The chief of staff of the Azov National Guard Brigade said he felt that launching the investigation was "the only possibility to change the situation.

"And the only thing I will always be ashamed of is that I didn't do it earlier. Fate favors the brave, and some creatures are helped by the fact that most are silent due to understanding the consequences of a 'personal vendetta' against themselves and their units.

"Therefore, I note that this is my personal decision and I fully accept the consequences."

The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, said in an update on Monday that Hnatov had served as deputy commander of the Ukrainian southern theater since 2022, and that he played a key role in liberating the right bank of Ukraine's Kherson region.

He also commanded the defense of the town of Bakhmut in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region in spring 2023, the think tank said.

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