Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former head of Ukraine's army and now ambassador to Britain, has spoken publicly for the first time about a deep rift with President Volodymyr Zelensky. In an interview with The Associated Press, Zaluzhnyi detailed tensions that emerged soon after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, culminating in a raid on his office by Ukraine's domestic intelligence service, the SBU, later that year.
Zaluzhnyi alleges that dozens of SBU agents searched his office in mid-September 2022 in what he describes as an act of intimidation. He claims he called Zelensky's chief of staff, warning he would call in the military to protect the command centre. The SBU denied any search took place, stating that the address was part of an investigation into a strip club linked to organised crime, which was unrelated to Zaluzhnyi. However, the strip club in question had been closed at that location since before the war, according to employees.
The revelation comes at a critical moment in the war, as Russian forces make slow gains in eastern Ukraine and the US pushes for a peace deal. Political analysts have long viewed Zaluzhnyi as Zelensky's top political rival, especially after his dismissal as army chief in February 2024 and subsequent appointment as ambassador to London, widely seen as an effort to limit his political potential.
Zaluzhnyi also disclosed disagreements over the 2023 counteroffensive, which ultimately failed. He said the plan, developed with NATO partners, aimed to concentrate forces in a 'single fist' to retake the Zaporizhzhia region and cut off Russian supply lines to Crimea. However, he claims Zelensky and other officials failed to commit the necessary resources, leading to its failure.
The strained relationship between the two men has persisted, but Zaluzhnyi refuses to discuss any political ambitions, stating he does not want to harm national unity during the war. While a peace deal remains elusive, Zelensky has agreed in principle to President Trump's plan for elections after the war ends.
