Zaluzhny accused Zelensky of failing the counteroffensive in 2023.

The failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023 was due to insufficient resources from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials.

Former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and current Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Valeriy Zaluzhny stated this in an interview with the Associated Press.

According to Zaluzhny, the counteroffensive plan called for concentrating significant forces into a “single force” to recapture the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, where the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is located, and then advancing south to the Sea of Azov. This would cut off the land corridor Russia used to supply annexed Crimea.

The military officer emphasized that the success of the operation would have required a significant buildup of forces and tactical surprise. Ukrainian troops were scattered across a large area, significantly reducing their striking power.

Two Western defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Zaluzhny’s account of the operation’s deviation from the original plan. The counteroffensive was also criticized by experts for being overly ambitious and for its late start, which gave Russian forces time to consolidate their positions.

As a reminder, in February 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny , and Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky was appointed to his position.

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