Zaluzhnyi dismissed from military service, appointed ambassador to UK

Decree No.309/2024 of May 8, published on the Ukrainian president’s website, states this.

"To dismiss General Zaluzhnyi Valerii Fedorovych from military service in retirement for health reasons with the right to wear military uniforms," the decree reads.

At the same time, Decree No.316/2024 appointed Zaluzhnyi Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Zaluzhnyi’s dismissal: what is known

On February 3, The Washington Post reported, citing two anonymous sources, that the Ukrainian government had informed the administration of US President Joe Biden of a possible decision to dismiss the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

On February 8, Zelenskyy dismissed Zaluzhnyi and appointed Oleksandr Syrskyi to replace him.

On February 23, Zelenskyy gave reasons for Zaluzhnyi's resignation and the change in the Armed Forces command. He stated that the change of command of the Armed Forces was necessary to reboot the army's management, but this did not mean a reset of the direction of action at the front.

On March 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the candidacy of former Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyy for the post of ambassador to the United Kingdom, and on April 24, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Mykhailo Podolyak said that Zaluzhnyi would begin work as ambassador to the UK in the coming weeks.