UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 706 - JANUARY 29, 2024

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense denied rumors on January 29 about the alleged resignation or dismissal of Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

Ukrainian MP Oleksii Honcharenko claimed on January 29 that Zaluzhnyi had announced his resignation, but there was no decree yet. Former Ukrainian MP Boryslav Bereza claimed that the Ukrainian Presidential Administration had “dismissed” Zaluzhnyi. Western media spread the statements of Honcharenko and Bereza, and Russian sources and state media also picked up the claim that Zaluzhnyi had been dismissed or had resigned. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense appears to have responded to the rumors with the statement “No, that is not true,” but has not provided further information about the situation at the time of this report. ISW cannot independently confirm the rumors of Zaluzhnyi's dismissal or resignation at this time.

Amid ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory, Russia may be reinforcing parts of its air defense in the rear areas.

Russian forces have recently advanced near Kreminna and Avdiivka, as well as in the border area of Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast.

The complete Russian Offensive Update 706 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR