Flying under the Radar: Explaining how Ukraine’s “Iron General” is Turning the Tide of War
With a population and army that is dwarfed by Russia, Ukraine seemed to be in dire trouble later last year when Vladimir Putin’s three pronged special military operation was launched. Despite this, Ukrainian forces have been able to contain the initial Russian offensive and ultimately fight back and re-capture over 6,000 square kilometers from Russian control. Ukraine’s military successes are normally associated directly with Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s role in the conflict, as he has shown great ability to unite the Ukrainian population and bring attention to his country's cause. In the midst of all of this though, Valerii Zaluzhnyi the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the radar sits, who has just recently been recognized by Time magazine, as part of the Top 100 list of the most influential people in the world. Also known as the: “Iron General”, a name bestowed upon him by the Ukrainian people, Zaluzhnyi has played a crucial role in turning the tide of this conflict.
How has he managed such a feat? It all starts from his own personal background. Raised in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Zaluzhnyi pursued a career in the Ukrainian armed forces after the collapse of the Soviet Union. After graduating as a student from the Odessa Institute of Land Forces in 1997, Zaluzhnyi rapidly rose through the ranks of the army, applying his trade mainly in the 2014 Donbass conflict. Zaluzhnyi’s approach to warfare was greatly shaped by being part of this new generation of Ukrainian military leaders with no past experience in the Soviet military. This pushed him to become a great advocate for reforming the Ukrainian military by making it more alike to NATO/US forces. Some of the actions undertaken to implement this change include: incentivizing military exercises between NATO and Ukraine, giving more authority to commanders on the battlefield by creating a class of junior officers and reducing old-Soviet military bureaucracy within the Ukrainian military structures.
The impact of these reforms has been pivotal both in the initial defense of Ukrainian urban centers during the outbreak of the war and also in the subsequent counteroffensives launched in August and September. An example of this may be seen with Zaluzhnyi’s order during the opening stages of the conflict to: “return fire with any available weapons … with no need for permission from senior commanders”. Orders like this one were detrimental in foiling the initial Russian offensive by bogging down their troops and inflicting mass casualties within the Russian ranks, which in turn lowered morale. Giving greater authority to commanders stationed on the battlefield has also contributed to transforming the Ukrainian military into a dynamic force with a flexible command structure. This newfound structural efficiency has enabled the Ukrainian’s to outmaneuver the Russians and exploit their long and overstretched supply lines, as seen in both the Ukrainian Southern and Northeastern counteroffensives.
Moving away from Zaluzhnyi’s military reforms, his persona and respected image within Ukraine has also helped boost the morale of his fighting force, as after president Zelenskyy, Zaluzhny has become the face of the war effort. His omnipresence on Ukrainian social media platforms such as telegram has helped consolidate his popularity throughout the nation. Examples of this range from, the constantly shared pictures of the general on the front line taking care of his soldiers to Zaluzhnyi’s online fan channels that have amassed thousands of followers. The impact of this strong persona involuntarily crafted by Zaluzhnyi should not be underestimated, given that basic military doctrine tells us that a fighting force that is loyal and respects its leader tends to fight with greater grit on the battlefield. Due to this, it cannot be ruled out that Zaluzhnyi’s persona has helped strengthen the determination and resilience of the men who fight under his command, ultimately facilitating the stoic defense of Ukraine.
When looking at the wider implications of Zaluzhnyi’s military career, it may be stated that Zaluzhnyi’s conduct currently offers a model for military leadership in a world in which strategy morphs constantly. One of the main lessons that may be learned from the “Iron General'' is adaptability, as seen through the various reforms introduced by Zaluzhnyi, which have helped the Ukrainian army move on from the deficient military structure inherited from the Soviet Union. Zaluzhnyi’s command of the Ukrainian army ultimately exposes the outdated nature of cold-war tactics and army structures in today’s battlefields. This lesson is especially important for other post-soviet states in the direct proximity of Russia such as: Moldova and Georgia, which should continue to fully integrate their fighting forces with NATO standards.
Zaluzhnyi’s leadership has also highlighted the importance of persona and character, as a key trait that all battlefield commanders should possess. Like the Shawzkopfs and Rommels of the past, a general surrounded by an aura of admiration and respectcan make a positive contribution to the war effort, especially in a country under siege like Ukraine. This synergy between the ordinary soldier and the executive branch of the Ukrainian army also reminds us of the significance of understanding the limitations of your own military power and being resourceful.The hit and run tactics and extensive use of foreign military technology deployed by Ukraine are a testament to Zaluzhnyi’s ability to play to the strengths of his own outnumbered fighting force. At this stage it is still impossible to quantify Zaluzhnyi’s overarching impact on the war in Ukraine due to the ongoing nature of the conflict. What we can gather though, from his military track record up until this point are a myriad of lessons for a generation of future generals, that might have to fend off Russian aggression once more.