Zaluzhnyi Valeriy Fedorovych

"Iron General," former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, ambassador to the United Kingdom, and the main rating rival to the government

Born on July 8, 1970, in Novohrad-Volynskyi (now Zviahel), Zhytomyr region. A career military officer, Hero of Ukraine. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (2021–2024), who led the country's defense against the full-scale Russian invasion and became a symbol of resistance. In February 2024, Zelensky dismissed him from the position (replacing him with Syrskyi) amid reports by Western media about the president's "jealousy" over the general's rating.

From Commander-in-Chief to Embassy

Since 2024 — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom; oversees the implementation of the security agreement with London. Despite periodic rumors of resignation, he remains in office. He consistently leads Ukrainian trust ratings (73% in June 2026) and is considered the main potential rival to Zelensky in possible presidential elections — in modeled second-round polls, sociology gives him victory. He himself states that he has never sought a political career.