Disputes between Ukrainian top generals stalled 2023 counteroffensive — media

The article centers on the Ukrainian Defense Forces' unsuccessful counteroffensive in the Tokmak-Melitopol-Azov Sea region in 2023. 

It alleges that the counteroffensive strategy was developed collaboratively by Ukrainian and American generals at a U.S. intelligence center in Wiesbaden, Germany. The full article can be read here, with key points available at this link.

“The [then - ed.] Ukrainian armed forces chief, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, embraced the plan, whose centerpiece was an assault in the direction of the southern city of Melitopol that would cut off Russian supply lines. But his rival and subordinate, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, had his own plan — to impale Russian forces in the occupied eastern city of Bakhmut. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, sided with him and divided up the ammunition and forces between two main fronts instead of one. The Ukrainians never did reclaim Bakhmut, and within months, the counteroffensive ended in failure. Russia now had the upper hand,” the article says.

Comments by the Ukrainian side

General Syrsky refused to answer questions from the New York Times about his interaction with the American generals, but a spokesman for the Ukrainian Armed Forces said: “We do hope that the time will come, and after the victory of Ukraine, the Ukrainian and American generals you mentioned will perhaps jointly tell us about their working and friendly negotiations during the fighting against Russian aggression.”

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office and arguably the country's second most powerful official, said the counteroffensive has been “primarily blunted” by “political hesitation” of allies and “constant” delays in arms deliveries.

“The real reason why we were not successful was because an improper number of forces were assigned to execute the plan,” another Ukrainian official said.

• On February 8, 2024, Zelenskyy fired Zaluzhny and appointed Oleksandr Syrsky to replace him.
• On March 7, Zaluzhny was appointed Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom.