Valeriy Zaluzhny, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, has stated that the 2023 counteroffensive did not succeed due to actions taken by President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials. In an interview with the Associated Press, Zaluzhny elaborated on the challenges faced during the military operation.
According to Zaluzhny, the counteroffensive plan, developed in collaboration with NATO partners, faltered because the necessary resources were not allocated by Zelensky and other key figures. He had initially aimed to concentrate forces in a single area to reclaim parts of the Zaporizhia region, subsequently advancing towards the Azov Sea. This strategy was intended to disrupt the supply corridor used by Russian forces from Crimea.
Zaluzhny emphasized that achieving success would have required a significant buildup of forces and tactical surprise. However, the Ukrainian military’s resources were spread too thin across a wide area, diminishing their striking power. Two Western defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, corroborated that the operation deviated from its original plan.
In December 2023, Oleksiy Danilov, then Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, acknowledged that the expectations surrounding the counteroffensive had been overly optimistic. Meanwhile, Christian Freiding, head of the special Ukraine task force at the German Ministry of Defense, noted that the Ukrainian forces had achieved some military successes during the counteroffensive.
President Zelensky admitted that the counteroffensive did not yield the anticipated results, attributing this largely to a lack of military support from allies, which left ground forces in a disadvantageous position. He stated, “We are not retreating; I am satisfied.”
Kirill Budanov, the former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, argued that the limited outcomes of the counteroffensive should not be labeled a “catastrophe.” In November 2023, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that Ukraine’s inability to execute a rapid counteroffensive stemmed from a shortage of equipment and weapons that were not arriving quickly enough.
In a piece for The Economist, Zaluzhny suggested that the conflict in Ukraine was entering a new phase, evolving into a war of attrition.
On February 8, 2024, President Zelensky dismissed Zaluzhny from his position as Commander-in-Chief and appointed General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who previously led the Ground Forces, as his successor. Following this change, a Pentagon spokesperson reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine despite Zaluzhny’s departure.
The day after his dismissal, Zelensky awarded Zaluzhny the title of Hero of Ukraine, along with Kirill Budanov. On March 7, the president approved Zaluzhny’s appointment as Ukraine’s extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed confidence in Zaluzhny’s diplomatic capabilities after several discussions with him.
Valeriy Zaluzhny has attributed the shortcomings of Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive to decisions made by President Zelensky and other officials. Despite the challenges, some military successes were noted, highlighting the complexities of the ongoing conflict.
Source: Associated Press