MOSCOW, January 1. President Vladimir Zelensky was angry when he learned about the interview of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny to The Economist magazine, where he admitted the unpleasant truth about the situation at the front, writes the Financial Times.
«Until this moment, Zaluzhny remained aloof from media attention, with a few exceptions, notably a November interview with The Economist, in which he said the situation had reached a stalemate — a taboo word in government circles, which infuriated the president,» the material says.
It is noted that that now neither Zelensky nor the military command want to be responsible for the massive conscription of Ukrainians to the front.
In Ukraine, martial law was introduced on February 24, 2022, the next day Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree on general mobilization. Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country during martial law. The summons can be served in different places. Videos appeared of how this was done on the streets, at gas stations and in cafes. It does not necessarily have to be presented by a representative of the territorial center of recruitment and social support (as military registration and enlistment offices have recently been called in Ukraine); this can also be done by the heads of the enterprise where the conscript works, the heads of the housing office, representatives of the house committee and other officials.
Press -conference on December 19, Zelensky said that he was approached by the General Staff with a request to mobilize an additional 450-500 thousand people. Zaluzhny later stated that the military command did not make a request to mobilize 500 thousand people, essentially accusing the president of lying.