Former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and current Ambassador to the UK Valerii Zaluzhnyi intends to run in the next presidential elections, according to the latest domestic reports.
According to Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda, Zaluzhnyi was summoned to Kyiv in mid-June, when incumbent President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly asked his former top military commander whether he would take part in presidential elections if they were held in autumn.
According to the reports, Zaluzhnyi confirmed his intentions and explained that he had previously never sought a political career, “but many people are placing their hopes in him and he would not be able to explain why he should disregard that trust.”
Trust in Zelenskyy holds steady
As of early June, public trust in Zelenskyy among Ukrainians stood at 61%, according to the data by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). The latest result shows backing for Zelenskyy remains stable, compared to the previous poll in April.
Without mentioning a possible election, KIIS also polled the respondents about their trust in political and military figures in Ukraine.
Among the politicians, the highest level of trust was recorded for Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov, at 52%, which still remains lower than Zelenskyy’s result.
But among the military figures, a few have higher levels of trust, although not all are interested or have indicated interest in politics.
Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces Robert “Magyar” Brovdi registered a trust rating of 70% among the poll’s respondents.
The high result can be explained by Brovdi’s record of mid- and long-range strikes into Russia, including the recent drone raids in Moscow and occupied Crimea — two of Russia’s most protected areas.
The head of Zelenskyy’s office, Kyrylo Budanov, is also seen as trustworthy by 70% of the respondents. Budanov’s popularity and trust have been cemented since his position as head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence (HUR).
Neither Brovdi nor Budanov expressed their interest in running in the presidential elections, at least not publicly.
Zaluzhnyi’s result is even higher at 73%, which could make him Zelenskyy’s main rival if the elections were to take place any time soon.
Why is Zaluzhnyi so popular?
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi was appointed commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military in July 2021, half a year before Russia started its full-scale invasion. His appointment, reportedly pushed through personally by Zelenskyy, came as a surprise to many.
Soon after Moscow attacked in February 2022, Zaluzhnyi became a national hero after successfully defending Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine from Russia’s brutal all-out assault, despite being rarely seen in public.
When Ukrainian troops moved from defence to successful pushback and liberated the Kharkiv region in a lightning counteroffensive, Zaluzhnyi’s name became synonymous with bravery and determination, and his reputation gave rise to anecdotes and legends.
But in February 2024 Zelenskyy replaced the “Iron General”, saying it was time to “renew the leadership” of the Ukrainian military after a failed counteroffensive in 2023.
Behind closed doors, rumours had been circulating that Zelenskyy viewed his top commander’s surging popularity among the Ukrainian public as a potential threat to his own position.
In an opinion piece on the eve of his removal, Zaluzhnyi voiced his frustration with “the inability of state institutions in Ukraine to improve the manpower levels of our armed forces without the use of unpopular measures.”
About a month after his removal, the “Iron General” was appointed as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK – the position he is still holding now.
Announcing his appointment in 2024, Zelenskyy claimed Zaluzhnyi had told him diplomacy “is the direction he’d like to take”.
Largely out of the public eye since his appointment in the UK — one of Ukraine’s most reliable allies — Zaluzhnyi refrained from any direct criticism of Zelenskyy or even comments regarding their alleged tensions while at the same time he managed to maintain his almost mythical status in Ukraine, which can now translate into votes.