Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
It follows lengthy speculation about a rift between the president and General Zaluzhnyi, who has led Ukraine's war effort since February 2022.
The dismissal will be made official in a presidential decree.
The country's defence minister Rustem Umerov said in a statement as the news emerged:
"General Valerii Zaluzhnyi had one of the most difficult tasks - to lead the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Great War with Russia.
"But war does not remain the same. War changes and demands change. Battles 2022, 2023 and 2024 are three different realities. 2024 will bring new changes, for which we must be ready. New approaches, new strategies are needed.
"Today, a decision was made on the need to change the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"I am sincerely grateful to Valerii Fedorovych for all his achievements and victories."
