Exclusive: Ukraine’s embattled army chief emphasizes the need for adaptation to a decrease in Western military assistance

Ukraine’s embattled military leader, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, asserts that Ukraine must adjust to a decrease in military support from key allies and place a heightened emphasis on technology to effectively combat Russia. In an exclusive essay penned for CNN amid swirling rumors about his future, Zaluzhnyi addresses the challenge of mass mobilization, a source of tension with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The general’s essay avoids mentioning his relationship with the president or reports hinting at his imminent dismissal after four years in the role, potentially occurring within days. Instead, Zaluzhnyi builds upon arguments from a previous essay published three months ago, also shedding light on recent political setbacks.

In his initial essay for the Economist, Zaluzhnyi underscored the importance of unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare capabilities, emphasizing their priority for Ukraine. He contends that innovative approaches can transform the current war of attrition into one of maneuver.

Zaluzhnyi’s acknowledgment of the conflict as a war of attrition, marked by stagnation on the battlefield, implies the conclusion of the Ukrainian counteroffensive launched with great anticipation in 2023. Hopes for a maneuverable offensive to reclaim lost territory were hampered by Russian minefields, heavy artillery fire, and the widespread use of First-Person-View (FPV) drones hindering stealth attacks.

While Ukrainian forces advanced about 20 kilometers in the south, falling short of the anticipated 70 kilometers to the coast, Zelensky’s office criticized Zaluzhnyi’s reference to the situation as a ‘stalemate,’ stating it favored Russia.

In his CNN article, Zaluzhnyi recognizes the need for military leaders to factor in disappointments and distractions beyond the battlefield, indirectly alluding to the failure of the U.S. to agree on a new military aid package for Ukraine. He also highlights developments in the Middle East diverting international attention and the weak international sanctions allowing Russia to sustain a war of attrition.

Though not explicitly stated, the article implies a growing belief that Ukraine’s fate is in its own hands. Zaluzhnyi acknowledges the country’s tradition of self-help, particularly in nurturing its drone industry, which has achieved successes in sea drone programs and long-range aerial drones targeting Russian cities.

However, domestic challenges surface, notably the reluctance of political leaders in Kyiv to fully support Zaluzhnyi’s call for mobilization, an acknowledgment of Russia’s overwhelming troop advantage. Zaluzhnyi suggests that in a society hesitant to expose large numbers of young individuals to direct danger, remote-controlled drones offer a more acceptable form of combat.

He underscores the superiority of technology over tradition, contending that unmanned aerial vehicles and other high-tech capabilities have not only revolutionized combat operations but also transformed overall strategic approaches. Zaluzhnyi concludes that victory in modern warfare requires discarding outdated thinking in favor of innovative strategies.