Thanks to the successes in the defense of the country, General Valery Zaluzhny was among the most popular figures in Ukraine. He never showed any interest in politics. But his popularity has inevitably made President Volodymyr Zelensky's office feel threatened..

The Economist writes about this, adding that during sociological studies commissioned by the OP, they began to ask Ukrainians about whether they would vote for the party of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, although he has no political power.

“Officers close to Zelensky are quick to point out that General Zaluzhny has never been to the front.. Defenders of the general explain that this is only because it was the same officials who forbade him from making such trips.. Some people close to the president would like to replace the commander-in-chief with General Alexander Syrsky, who commands the Ground Forces,” the newspaper writes, recalling that last year Zaluzhny got his post by jumping “over the head” of Syrsky.

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The Economist writes that until recently Syrsky was higher in the command structure than Zaluzhny. And there is gossip that the President's Office would like to replace " Hints of cracks in Ukrainian unity worries senior Western military.

The Economist notes that, at best, this petty rivalry is a distraction.

At worst, as one foreign soldier said, it could undermine Ukrainian unity and weaken Western confidence in the Ukrainian leadership..

“Now is not the time for politicking or undermining confidence in the political and military leadership,” he warned..

The Ukrainian generals themselves assure that they fully trust each other and would like to stay away from politics.. General Syrsky is uncomfortable talking about this at all..

" This is how it should be and this is how the law requires it,” he stressed..