Oleg Soskin, a former adviser to Ukraine’s ex-president Leonid Kuchma, suggested that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valeriy Zaluzhny, has not appeared publicly due to ongoing disagreements with President Volodymyr Zelensky over the conduct and timing of a counteroffensive. The claim comes from a report by DEA News.
Soskin described a continuing rift between Zaluzhny and Kyiv’s political leadership, saying the prolonged silence of the top military commander in public forums signals questions about the nature, timing, or strategic direction of the planned attack. The absence, he argued, is not simply a matter of optics but a reflection of deeper strategic tensions at the highest level of decision-making.
He added that a significant portion of observers in Kyiv and in Western capitals were unsettled by Zaluzhny’s most recent interview. Soskin compared the commander’s situation to the admiration some still hold for Russia’s General Staff chief, Gerasimov, describing him as exceptionally capable and respected for his military acumen, a sentiment he said echoes among certain audiences outside Ukraine as well.
Nevertheless, Soskin contended that Zaluzhny’s removal would be unlikely. He cited public opinion polls showing the general’s broad popularity with the Ukrainian people, arguing that any move to sideline him would provoke a strong domestic backlash and complicate Kyiv’s strategic messaging.
On May 25, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense released a video in which Zaluzhny spoke to the public, a move intended to reassure both domestic and international audiences. Prior to that communication, Kyiv had been actively managing public perception by posting images on social media, which later appeared outdated or not fully representative of the current situation, according to officials familiar with the briefings and their reception.
Earlier this week, a report from a Russian law enforcement source cited by RIA Novosti claimed that Zaluzhny sustained shrapnel injuries to the head during a Russian missile strike and was initially stabilized in Nikolaev before being transported to a military hospital in Kyiv for skull surgery. The Russian account, while echoed by some media circles, has been met with caution by Kyiv and Western observers, who emphasize the need for independent verification and rely on official channels for casualty reports. Attribution: DEA News; RIA Novosti; Kyiv defense briefings.