Valerii Zaluzhnyi
Валерій Залужний
🇺🇦 UkraineReplaced
Role
Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces
Rank
General of the Army
War Period
Feb 2022 – Feb 2024
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi commanded the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 2021 until February 2024. Often called "the Iron General" or "Zaluzha," he became internationally recognized for organizing Ukraine's successful defense against the initial Russian invasion, including the Battle of Kyiv, and later the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive. He was replaced by General Oleksandr Syrskyi in February 2024 amid reported tensions with President Zelensky over strategy and manpower.
Key Operations
- —Defense of Kyiv (February–April 2022)
- —Kharkiv counteroffensive (September 2022)
- —Kherson liberation operation (October–November 2022)
- —Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive planning (2023)
Notable
In November 2022 Zaluzhnyi wrote an article in The Economist calling the war a "stalemate" — a statement that caused significant political controversy, reflecting strategic tensions within Ukrainian leadership.
Other Ukraine Commanders
Oleksandr Syrskyi
ActiveCommander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces
Kyrylo Budanov
ActiveChief of Military Intelligence
Mykhailo Drapatyi
ActiveCommander of Ukrainian Ground Forces
Volodymyr Zelensky
ActivePresident of Ukraine and Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Mykola Oleshchuk
ActiveCommander of the Ukrainian Air Force
Rostyslav Pavliuk
ActiveCommander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces
Oleksandr Tarnavskyi
ActiveCommander of the "Tavria" Operational-Strategic Group
Mykola Balan
ActiveCommander of the Air Force of Ukraine
Serhii Nayev
ActiveCommander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine (North)
Dmytro Marchenko
ActiveCommander of the Mykolaiv Garrison; later Deputy Commander of Ground Forces
Vasyl Maliuk
ActiveHead of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
Viktor Horenko
ActiveCommander of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine (SSO)
Rustem Umerov
ActiveMinister of Defence of Ukraine
Oleksii Reznikov
ReplacedMinister of Defence of Ukraine
Oleksii Neyizhpapa
ReplacedCommander of the Naval Forces of Ukraine
Andriy Kovalchuk
ActiveCommander of Ukraine's Southern Operational Command
Oleksandr Pavliuk
ActiveCommander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces
Andrii Hnatov
ActiveChief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Yurii Sodol
DismissedFormer Commander of the Joint Forces of Ukraine
Related Battles & Operations
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Valerii Zaluzhnyi?
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi commanded the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 2021 until February 2024. Often called "the Iron General" or "Zaluzha," he became internationally recognized for organizing Ukraine's successful defense against the initial Russian invasion, including the Battle of Kyiv, and later the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive. He was replaced by General Oleksandr Syrskyi in February 2024 amid reported tensions with President Zelensky over strategy and manpower.
What is Valerii Zaluzhnyi's role in the Ukraine war?
Valerii Zaluzhnyi (General of the Army) served as Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Ukraine side. Service period: Feb 2022 – Feb 2024. Current status: Replaced.
What key operations was Valerii Zaluzhnyi involved in?
Defense of Kyiv (February–April 2022). Kharkiv counteroffensive (September 2022). Kherson liberation operation (October–November 2022). Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive planning (2023).
What is notable about Valerii Zaluzhnyi in the context of the Ukraine war?
In November 2022 Zaluzhnyi wrote an article in The Economist calling the war a "stalemate" — a statement that caused significant political controversy, reflecting strategic tensions within Ukrainian leadership.
Is Valerii Zaluzhnyi still active in the Ukraine war?
Valerii Zaluzhnyi's current status is: Replaced. They served during Feb 2022 – Feb 2024.