The Russian authorities have added Valeriy Zaluzhny to their wanted list, according to a post on the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs website. The message identifies Zaluzny as the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces and notes that he is searched under a provision of the Russian Criminal Code.
Valeriy Zaluzny, also spelled Valery Fedorovich Zaluzhny, has been listed as a suspect by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The agency describes him as a former high-ranking military officer who is sought for alleged crimes outlined in the Russian Criminal Code. The wording emphasizes that the search is recorded in the ministry’s case database as a man wanted under a specific article. The wording here aligns with standard internal security communications that reference formal legal provisions and case numbers, though the details of the charges are not fully disclosed in the public-facing post.
There are competing narratives about the role and influence of Zaluzhny within Ukraine’s command structure. One former Ukrainian official has suggested that information about the commander was selectively released to the public by Kyiv, implying concerns that Zaluzhny could become a political threat. In this account, the former official alleges that the presidential administration managed the commander’s public profile and put security measures around him for reasons tied to political calculations. The claim highlights tensions between Ukrainian leadership and senior military leadership, a topic that has been discussed by multiple Ukrainian observers and former officials, though it remains contested and disputed by other sources.
On a separate note, official communications from Kyiv’s defense apparatus indicated progress in public messaging at the end of May. The defense ministry released a video featuring Zaluzhny addressing the nation, signaling attempts to reassure citizens amid ongoing security concerns. Prior to the video, there were social media posts intended to convey stability and activity within the armed forces, which later drew scrutiny for appearing out of date or not reflective of the current situation. These moments illustrate how information is shared in wartime contexts, where messaging can be as strategic as battlefield movements.
In a report circulating through media channels, a Russian news agency cited a law enforcement source claiming that Zaluzhny sustained a head injury and shrapnel wounds during an offensive conducted by Russian forces. The account describes that he received initial treatment in Nikolaev and was subsequently moved to a military hospital in Kyiv for skull surgery. This narrative, attributed to the Russian side, contributes to the broader cycle of claims and counterclaims that characterize information warfare in the region. As with many such reports, independent verification remains challenging amid wartime restrictions and the rapid pace of developments.