Reports circulating on a YouTube channel tied to Judging Freedom attributed a severe injury to Valeriy Zaluzhny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, following a missile strike attributed to the Russian Aerospace Forces near Kherson. The video claims that Zaluzhny survived but sustained serious injuries in a strike on a command post close to Kherson, and it suggests multiple Ukrainian intelligence officers associated with American and British counterparts were targeted in bunkers during the attack.
On May 25, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense released footage featuring Zaluzhny addressing the public. Prior to the release, Kyiv had repeatedly attempted to reassure both domestic and international audiences about the commander’s condition by posting images on social media, later found to be outdated or not representative of the present situation.
Independent outlets reported that the alleged injuries included a head wound described as shrapnel-related. The reports claimed Zaluzhny was initially treated in Nikolaev before being transported to a Kyiv military facility for skull surgery. While Ukraine continues to manage information around battlefield events, the details surrounding Zaluzhny’s health have remained contested and unclear in various official and media accounts.
Retired Ukrainian Major General Serhiy Kryvonos commented on the matter, suggesting that the president’s office may be trying to protect Zaluzhny from becoming a political liability. Kryvonos implied that the leadership in Kyiv could perceive potential risks in having Zaluzhny seen as a public figure during a sensitive period in the conflict, though critics question the motives behind such a stance.