Khorenko’s dismissal without Zaluzhnyi’s approval is occured due to political intrigues of President’s Office

Today (3.11.2023 - ed.), during an interview, Major General Viktor Khorenko, Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, knew about his dismissal from journalists. The corresponding decree was published on the website of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Khorenko said in a comment that his immediate superior, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi did not know about Khorenko's removal from office, and Khorenko himself also heard about it from a media report.

Thus, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy interfered in personnel decisions in the Armed Forces, violating the procedure for the dismissal of the commander of the Special Operations Forces.

The president himself, in his evening address, did not explain why he neglected Zaluzhnyi's rights. He simply announced the dismissal of Khorenko and the appointment of a new commander of the Special Operations Forces, Serhii Lupanchuk.

Censor.NET's sources in the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirm that neither the dismissal of Khorenko nor the appointment of Lupanchuk was discussed or agreed with Zaluzhnyi.

What conclusions can we draw from Khorenko's statement?

1. The President's Office demonstratively insulted the General, and the President does not even consider it necessary to explain the reasons for this disrespect to the military and society.
2. The replacement of the commander of the Special Operations Forces is connected with political intrigues and is not caused by military necessity, otherwise, Zaluzhnyi would have been asked. In this way, the Office of the President purposely weakens the influence of Zaluzhnyi in the army.
3. When it is profitably for Zelenskyy and his PR specialists, they hide behind Zaluzhnyi and say that he makes all the decisions himself. But in fact, there is no vertical of command and responsibility in the army, as personnel decisions are taken over by Zelenskyy himself and his office, that is, Andrii Yermak. They also make decisions by sidestepping Zaluzhnyi regarding other appointments to other command positions in the army.
4. Zelenskyy is afraid of Zaluzhnyi as a possible competitor in the upcoming elections. The change of the commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine without the consent of the commander-in-chief himself may be a warning about personnel decisions both in relation to other senior leaders of the army and in relation to Zaluzhnyi.

Yurii Butusov, Censor.NET