Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander of the armed forces, has been appointed as the country's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Zaluzhnyi's dismissal by President Volodymyr Zelensky last month marked a significant change in Ukraine's military leadership amidst Russia's full-scale invasion. Having led the war effort since 2022, Zaluzhnyi was considered a potential political rival to Zelensky and enjoyed popularity among soldiers.

The announcement of Zaluzhnyi's appointment as ambassador to the UK was made by Ukraine's foreign ministry on Thursday, following approval from the president. The ministry also stated that a formal request had been sent to the UK to finalize Zaluzhnyi's appointment.

Zelensky's decision to replace Zaluzhnyi with Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi last month came amid a perceived need for renewal in military leadership. Despite the shake-up, Zelensky had expressed that Zaluzhnyi could "remain on the team." Gen Syrskyi, described as having extensive offensive and defensive experience, succeeded Zaluzhnyi in the role.

Zaluzhnyi's removal from his position occurred at a time when he held higher approval ratings than President Zelensky, leading to speculation about potential tensions between the two individuals.

The appointment of Zaluzhnyi as ambassador to the UK fills a vacancy that has existed since Zelensky dismissed former envoy Vadym Prystaiko in July 2023 following public criticism of the president. Photo by Mil.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.