Zelensky Fires Eastern Ukraine Military Commander Amid Accusations of Heavy Losses

Kyiv, June 24, 2024 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Lt. Gen. Yuriy Sodol, the military commander leading operations in eastern Ukraine, following serious accusations that he was responsible for more Ukrainian casualties than any Russian general.

In his nightly video address, President Zelensky announced the replacement of Lt. Gen. Sodol with Brig. Gen. Andriy Hnatov. The decision follows allegations made by Bohdan Krotevych, leader of Ukraine’s esteemed Azov regiment, who charged the general with causing significant military setbacks and heavy personnel losses.

Without naming Sodol directly, Krotevych stated, “All the military now understand what kind of person I’m talking about, because 99 percent of the military hate him for what he does.”

This shake-up in military leadership comes as Ukraine is poised to begin accession talks with the European Union. Kyiv officials are set to meet with several EU ministers in Luxembourg, marking the start of a lengthy process toward membership.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock remarked on the historic nature of these talks, saying, “[Vladimir] Putin wanted to annex Ukraine. Instead, [the country] is now closer to the EU than ever before.”

The EU accession process is expected to take years, but the initiation of talks signifies a significant step forward for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.

This move by President Zelensky underscores his administration’s commitment to addressing internal challenges and aligning more closely with European allies, even as the country continues to defend its sovereignty.