On February 8, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Valeriy Zaluzhnyi is leaving the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His position will be taken over by the commander of the Ground Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
The Western media reacted to this event and published a number of materials.
Let's take a look at the main theses of the world's media about the new commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
Washington Post: "it is not yet clear" how Syrskyi's appointment will help improve "a situation that is becoming increasingly dangerous for Ukraine on the battlefield." The Ukrainian military is "particularly wary" of Syrskyi because of his closeness to Zelensky.
Wall Street Journal: A number of military officials criticize his tactics and say he is willing to sacrifice people even for symbolic achievements.
The Guardian: Syrskyi has a "mixed reputation" among the Ukrainian military, and is believed to be indifferent to the lives of soldiers during operations.
Financial Times: Syrskyi is seen as a close supporter of Zelensky, but widely disliked by ordinary soldiers. Officials and analysts in the West question Syrskyi's decisions and are not sure he can resist political interference.
Times: many officers are making fun of Syrskyi because he simply obeys instructions without arguing with Zelensky. He is also blamed for the loss of "the best officers of Ukraine." Syrskyi bears the same responsibility for the failure of the summer counteroffensive as Zaluzhnyi.
Politico: The Ukrainian military has given Syrskyi nicknames such as "the butcher" and "General 200" because of the losses the troops have suffered under his leadership.
