10 facts from the life of Valery Zaluzhniy 

So, who really is General Zaluzhny, who commands respect from his forces and the admiration of many?

Fact 1. Military background

He was born on July 8, 1973 in Novograd-Volynsky to a military family. He was raised in a garrison and always dreamed of a military career.

Fact 2. Truly post-Soviet Ukrainian military leader 

He is a new type of military leader who has not studied at any Russian or Soviet military school. He is Ukrainian through-and-through. In 1997 he graduated with honors from the General Military Faculty at Odessa Higher Command School. Within 10 years he had received his 2nd higher military education at the National Defense Academy. He also won a gold medal for his studies on the combat use of mechanized and tank formations. In 2014 he graduated from Ukraine’s Ivan Chernyakhivsky National Defense University of Ukraine - where he also distinguished himself and received a British military award.

Fact 3. He went through all stages of his military career

After graduating from high school in Odessa, Zaluzhny was appointed Chief of Staff - First Deputy Commander of 24th separate mechanized brigade in Yavoriv, ​​Lviv region. He successfully served in this position for two and a half years. In 2009, he was appointed commander of  51st Separate Mechanized Brigade, which he commanded until 2012. He received rank of Major General on August 23, 2017.

Fact 4. A family man

Zaluzhny has long and happily marriage to Olena, who works at Ukrgasbank. They have two daughters. The older one, Arina, became a soldier and served in Kyiv garrison, and the younger one, Khrystyna is studying in Odessa and plans to become a doctor.

Fact 5. Changes form to a sports suit

Zaluzhny likes spending his holidays in Ukraine. He said: “I have had a passion for travel since I was a pioneer, usually on foot: I wear a tracksuit and go to explore the city.” And on Facebook he said his prefers travelling with his wife.

Fact 6. In the war since 2014

He took part in fighting in Donbass. He does not like to talk about his own combat experience. He is convinced that the fate of a general and the fate of a soldier in war are perceived differently. Here is how he briefly described it in an interview: "For me, the war began in mid-July 2014, with the appointment of Deputy Commander of Sector C", in Donetsk region. Since then, he has led almost all groups that were created there. “I remember the soldiers. We still call and correspond with many of them. I am glad when I can help them with something, to solve some military or domestic issues. "

During Zaluzhny's presentation to the North Operational Command in 2019, an officer present said: “We know him at the front, often met him in the area of ​​hostilities and have a positive experience of performing tasks under his command."

Fact 7. Certain that Russia's invasion was inevitable

In summer 2021, Zaluzhny was nominated as Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. That was when the threat of a full-scale Russian offensive had already begun to grow. This is what he said in September: “The threat of full-scale aggression is, has been and will be. Our role as the Armed Forces is not to wait for manna from heaven, we must prepare for it. And we are doing everything to prepare for that.”

Fact 8. Consistent supporter of NATO standards

Zaluzhny is a staunch supporter of military reform: “The overall course of reforming Ukraine's Armed Forces in line with NATO principles and standards remains irreversible. And are the key principles. Changes must take place primarily in the worldview and attitude towards people. I would like you to turn your face to the people, to your subordinates. My attitude towards people has not changed throughout my service.”

Fact 9. Politico calls Zaluzhny an "iron general"

In early April, American media published an analytical article in which it wrote that “the commander will become a legendary figure in the history of Ukraine. After all, the success of Ukrainian army surprised the whole world. "The General is the personification of a new generation of Ukrainian officers, which was formed during 8-year war in Donbass and in exercises with NATO.”

Fact 10. Commander-in-Chief loves Instagram

Valery Zaluzhny has Facebook and Instagram pages. After a hard day's work, he switches to Insta for some refreshing cat-related content.