For the first time since the full-scale Russian invasion, the very popular Ukrainian Chief of Staff Valery Zalouzhny took part in a press conference on Tuesday, December 26th. Until then, his contacts with journalists could be counted on one hand. He was believed to be in the hot seat after political allies of President Volodymyr Zelensky made allegations aimed at blaming him for the Ukrainian army's failure to repel the Russian invader. During his press conference on December 19, the Ukrainian president, whose popularity has significantly waned, said that he was not convinced by the General Staff's demands to mobilize “450,000 to 500,000” troops to relieve the soldiers who have been fighting for two years. Procrastination or a desire to shift this responsibility to a potential political rival? In any case, Volodymyr Zelensky has still not signed the mobilization order.
General Valeri Zaloujny wanted to provide an update on this issue, pointing out that he had not provided any figures on the scale of mobilization, recalling that this decision rested with the political authorities. He also spoke of his dissatisfaction with the recruitment system, which he said was unable to recruit enough soldiers to relieve those who have been at the front for almost two years. In early December, he criticized the president's decision to suddenly dismiss all regional heads of recruitment centers, some of whom were implicated in corruption cases. With the result, in his opinion, of additional disorganization of the mobilization apparatus.
During the press conference, the chief of staff clarified some very sensitive parameters at the political level, while the army is now fighting to win Ukrainians to the flag. In particular, the term of the obligation. “We agreed with the Ministry of Defense on the 36-month deadline based on two points,” the general explained. First, there will be no escalation on the front lines. The second and most important condition is that there are replacements for the arriving soldiers after 36 months. I hope we are up to the task of replacing these people who are doing their jobs in extremely difficult conditions. Of course I agree that they should be demobilized because they need time to rest. »
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