Change of AFU top command is step towards disorganization of Ukraine's defense - international expert

This opinion was expressed by Mykhailo Honchar, an expert on international energy and security relations, President of the Strategy XXI Centre for Global Studies, on the Espreso TV channel.

"When the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is replaced during a critical period of Ukraine's defense, this is a step to disorganize Ukraine's defense, with virtually all the consequences. Our partners are also watching this," he said.

Amid recent events, the enemy will throw in information, special narratives and messages about "whether it is worth helping those who are not ready to help themselves", but rather "chaos" themselves from within. Another thing is that this "chaos" is the result of the work of enemy agents, agents of influence, Honchar said.

"Even before the Russian invasion, the political leadership of Ukraine was informed that it was necessary to clear the top level of government of agents. And immediately after the full-scale invasion began, they talked about it, but we still see no progress," he added.

For our partners in the US and EU, the question is how to continue to help us, Honchar said.

"But I don't think they will stop helping us, because it will also hit the Western political establishment. They won't say that this is a separate defeat for Ukraine. Then it will mean a "dark scenario" for the entire West," he said.

• On February 8, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Valeriy Zaluzhnyi from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi was appointed to replace him.
• On February 9, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov held the first working meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi and discussed the army's action plan for 2024.