Top Commander Zaluzhnyi Replaced by Syrskyi

Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhnyi was replaced by Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander who led the successful Kharkiv and Kherson counteroffensives. The change was attributed to strategic disagreements with Zelenskyy over manpower and tactics after the disappointing summer counteroffensive. Zaluzhnyi was named ambassador to the UK. The command transition came as Russia intensified pressure on Avdiivka.