WASHINGTON(February 2, 2024)—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his top commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny that he was firing him on Monday. A Zelensky spokeman denied the threat. The conversation and potential oust comes after months of tension between the president and the general. Gen. Zaluzhny has been Ukraine’s top commander for nearly two years.
For more context on the matter, please consider Alexander Downes, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs; Director, Institute for Security and Conflict Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University. Downes is an expert in international security, civilian victimization and civilian causalities in war, and foreign-imposed regime change. Professor Downes is the author of Targeting Civilians in War, and writes on military effectiveness, international security, foreign-imposed regime change, democracy, coercion and solutions to civil wars. Downes could speak to the historical context on this matter- similar situations in the past, general information on civil and military relations.
If you would like to speak with Professor Alexander Downes, please contact Media Relations Specialist Shannon Mitchell at shannon [dot] mitchell
gwu [dot] edu (shannon[dot]mitchell[at]gwu[dot]edu) or Cate Douglass at cdouglassgwu [dot] edu (cdouglass[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-
