Kiev:
General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the commander of Ukraine's armed forces who was replaced Thursday, became a national hero two years ago for repelling Moscow's invading forces but suffered setbacks on the battlefield as the war dragged on.
This ends intense speculation about his fate following reported friction between him and President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose authority will be tested as he tries to rally troops under a new army chief and change the dynamics of the war.
Ukrainian forces are struggling after a counter-offensive launched last June made little progress in the south and east, while Russian forces inflicted small but costly defeats at several points along the 1,000km front.
Western military and financial support is no longer guaranteed, leaving Kiev more exposed to attacks from Russian drones and missiles that undermine Ukrainian resources.
Given Zaluznhyi's popularity and proven ability as an inspirational commander, Zelensky's replacement could reflect a desire for a new approach on the battlefield.
In an op-ed published by CNN on February 1, Zaluhznyi reiterated his view that Ukraine can only compete with the much larger Russian military through technological innovation, including drones and other advanced weapons.
He also criticized state institutions for failing to push through unpopular legislation that would reform the way Ukrainians are mobilized to fight, amid a shortage of soldiers and growing exhaustion among those already serving.
A HERO TO MANY
Defying all odds, Ukrainian soldiers used stealth and speed to thwart Russia's advance on Kiev in February 2022, ensuring that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains far from conquering Ukraine even now.
As the war progressed, Zaluzhnyi's stock rose, and he won praise at home and abroad as his forces launched counteroffensives in the northeast and south that retook swaths of land and raised hopes of an unlikely victory.
A portrait of him smiling and flashing the peace sign was spray-painted on the walls after the liberation of the southern city of Kherson, under the slogan “God and Zaluzhnyi are with us”.
Since then, momentum on the Ukrainian battlefield has stalled, but polls showed that Zaluzhnyi was still trusted by 92% of Ukrainians at the end of last year, significantly more than Zelenskiy's 77%.
The reported friction between the two men came to light in November after Zaluzhnyi was quoted by the Economist as saying the war was at a “stalemate,” a gloomy assessment that contradicted Zelenskiy's more optimistic view.
The 50-year-old four-star general, who rarely speaks in public but is occasionally seen in news bulletins poring over maps and addressing commanders in fatigues, also said at the time that better technology was the key to breaking the impasse.
The president's office reprimanded him, and one of Zaluzhnyi's senior officers said he was fired by Zelensky over the general's head.
If he were to enter politics – although he has never expressed political ambitions – the 'Iron General' could prove to be a formidable force.
THE BURLY 'VOLUNTEER'
Zaluzhnyi began his military training in the 1990s, after Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union, where he graduated with honors and rose through the ranks.
He got a taste of real conflict in 2014 when he served in an area of eastern Ukraine where Russian-backed militants had captured territory.
Tall and stocky with close-cropped hair, Zaluzhnyi, whose military call sign is “Volunteer,” has a reputation for having a good relationship with his subordinates and allowing local commanders to make their own decisions on the battlefield.
His warning in November that the war was sliding into an exhausting phase that suited Russia was at odds with Kiev's official rhetoric, but for many of its soldiers it was a recognition of the painful reality on the battlefield.
Russia had been building fortifications since late 2022 after humiliating defeats in the Kharkov and Kherson regions, thwarting more recent Ukrainian advances.
Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed and injured on both sides, although there are no reliable official figures.
Ukraine desperately needs to replenish its overstretched and depleted ranks, but the government has failed to change call-up laws to recruit half a million more soldiers.
Kiev has also struggled to maintain Western support, which has been crucial to the war effort.
The United States has failed to deliver its promised massive aid package, although in a boost to Ukraine the European Union has agreed to provide $54 billion in new aid, overcoming weeks of resistance from Hungary.
But as Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II enters its third year, Zaluzhnyi's boots will be difficult to fill.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)