Axing of the Iron General a political move that raises fears of fracture in Ukraine
Forces News' Ukraine correspondent Simon Newton has broken down what the potential axing of Valerii Zaluzhnyi means for Ukraine on a domestic and international level.
The rumours started on social media. Ukraine's commander-in-chief, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, was about to be fired in a presidential purge.
Sources inside Ukraine's armed forces said it had happened - as did anonymous channels on Telegram.
But then. Nothing.
So what is happening with the so-called Iron General? Is Zelensky really about to pull the plug on Ukraine's most popular commanding officer?
Gen Zaluzhnyi, 50, has been commander-in-chief since 2021 and is seen as a hero for leading the defence of Kyiv at the start of the invasion.
Under his command, the Ukrainian army also retook Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts in Autumn 2022.
But last summer things changed. Ukraine's counter-offensive failed to achieve any decisive breakthrough.
There was criticism of the General's tactics, of his decision to attack along the frontline instead of making one concentrated thrust.
In November reports started swirling of tensions between him and the President.
That month the General wrote an op-ed for The Economist in which he said the war had reached a stalemate, and Ukraine needed to avoid the trap of prolonged war.
Mr Zelensky did not take it kindly.
Soon Ukrainian media reported that he was bypassing Gen Zaluzhnyi and consulting his service chiefs without the General's input.
So what’s happening now? Are things as bad as the (often incorrect) world of social media suggests?
Well, the President's office denies Gen Zaluzhnyi has been fired.
The General has also not commented on reports he was asked to resign, but refused.
Nevertheless, in a recent interview (Sunday 4 February) with Italian broadcaster RAI, Mr Zelensky seemed to all but confirm it is going to happen.
"A reset, a new beginning is necessary," he said. The review is "not about a single person but about the direction of the country's leadership".
Ukraine's ground forces commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, and its military spy chief, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, have been tipped as two possible successors to Gen Zaluzhnyi.
One Ukrainian newspaper reported that Mr Zelensky is also considering the removal of General Staff chief Serhii Shaptala.
So how will this go down in London, Washington or indeed Moscow?
There will undoubtedly be concerns it could fracture national unity, particularly at a time when Ukraine is facing a resurgent Russian army and critical shortages of ammunition.
The New York Times said US national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed the White House had been consulted about possible changes in Ukraine's leadership, but would not interfere.
Russian propagandists will seize on the reshuffle, using it to depict President Zelensky as an undemocratic tyrant.
Of course this is not all about battlefield tactics. There is also politics at play.
A poll last December showed Gen Zaluzhnyi had a 92 per cent trust rating among Ukrainians.
Mr Zelensky's presidential term ends next month, and although elections are postponed because of martial law he will know the General is seen as the only person in Ukraine who could threaten him politically if he stood for top office.
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