Zelensky fires his army chief after retreat

Oskar Forsberg

Updated 21.26 | Published 17.53

Photo: Ground Forces Of Ukraine/Facebook

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired his army chief.

The country's defense minister said this, according to Sky News.

The announcement comes after Ukraine began withdrawing from Kursk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired his army chief Anatoliy Bargylevych.

The army chief took office in February last year, but is now leaving.

He is being replaced by Andrey Hnatov.

Andrey Hnatov becomes the new army chief. Photo: Joint Forces Of The Ukrainian Armed Forces/Facebook

The country's defense minister said this, according to Sky News.

- We are systematically transforming Ukraine's defense forces to improve combat effectiveness, the defense minister said in connection with the change.

Withdrawal from Sudzha

At the same time, fighting continues in Kursk. Fighting is raging in two different areas in particular.

Russia says it has advanced in the city and has had successes on the battlefield, while Ukraine claims it is a deliberate retreat.

Putin visits the forces in Kursk. Photo: AP

Among other things, it is said that it has completely withdrawn from the town of Sudzha in the Kursk area.

This is reported by the Kyiv Independent newspaper.

The Ukrainian General Staff states that it has withdrawn to places that are easier to defend.

Hugo von Essen at the Center for East European Studies believes that Ukraine's retreat from Kursk will strengthen Russia's negotiating position.

He writes this in a text message to Aftonbladet.

Will speak with Putin this week

US President Donald Trump will speak on the phone with Russian President Putin this week.

This is what Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff tells CNN.

Witkoff himself had a meeting with Putin on Thursday. He is said to have described the conversation as “positive” afterwards.