Ukraine war: Selenskyj dismisses high-ranking general for incompetence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a high-ranking general following public criticism of excessive casualty figures and accusations of incompetence.

Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol has been Commander of the United Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of this year.

Brigadier General Andriy Hnatov has now been appointed as his successor.

Mr. Zelensky did not give a reason for his decision, which he announced during his evening video address on Monday.

However, just a few hours earlier, the Chief of Staff of the Azov Brigade, Maj. Bohdan Krotevych, had filed a complaint with the State Investigation Bureau (SBI), claiming that General Sodol had “killed more Ukrainian soldiers than any Russian general.”

Maj Krotevych wrote on Telegram that General Sodol was “not being investigated for the loss of regions and dozens of cities, as well as the loss of thousands of soldiers.”

“Sometimes it seems to me that the world sends us scum (to fight him) to unite us,” wrote Maj Krotevych. “And the entire military understands who I am talking about, because 99% of the military hates him for what he does.”

Maj Krotevych’s post on Telegram was viewed over 800,000 times. He later praised the appointment of General Hnatov, saying he was a “very worthy officer.”

Following Russia’s large-scale invasion in February 2022, General Sodol took part in the defense of the city of Mariupol and in fighting near the eastern Ukrainian city of Volnovakha. Both places are now under Russian control.

General Sodol has been Commander of the United Armed Forces since February 2024, when Oleksandr Syrskyy was appointed Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Since early 2024, Kyiv’s undermanned armed forces have struggled to hold their ground.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have increased their attacks on Russian territory in recent months.

Kiev has carried out several attacks on Russian oil refineries this year, arguing that they are legitimate targets because they supply oil to Moscow’s military.