@sassovivente.bsky.social Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny, is quietly preparing a run for president – in direct opposition to Zelensky.
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A source close to the budding campaign tells me his HQ is already active in London, and recruitment is underway. This isn’t just speculation. 🧵Here's what we know: 1/
aug 19, 2025, 7:52 pm • 5 0 • view
2/ Zaluzhny – Ukraine’s former top general, now ambassador to the UK – has “effectively begun” his campaign, the source says. The timing is no accident: Trump’s peace summits are speeding up the negotiation process, with Zelensky confirming that elections may be coming soon.
aug 19, 2025, 7:53 pm • 4 0 • view
3/ Lt. Gen. Serhiy Nayev has been tapped as Zaluzhny’s new campaign chief – and may already be a source of internal tension.
aug 19, 2025, 7:54 pm • 3 0 • view
He’s reportedly suspected of being involved with the 2022 demining orders that left Ukrainian defenses dangerously exposed. If confirmed, it could trigger another shake-up before the campaign even goes public.
aug 19, 2025, 7:54 pm • 3 0 • view
4/ None of the generals involved so far has ever run a political campaign before. The real organizing power is MP Viktoria Syumar – a sitting lawmaker with the European Solidarity party. She’s been handling the nuts and bolts behind the scenes as deputy head of the campaign.
aug 19, 2025, 7:55 pm • 3 0 • view
5/ Zaluzhny’s media operation is led by former BBC Ukraine journalist Oksana Torop, who has covered him closely in the past. Now she’s shaping the message from the inside – and it’s already casting him as calm, capable, and destined to lead.
aug 19, 2025, 7:55 pm • 4 0 • view
6/ International outreach is led by Polina Lysenko – ex-head of Ukraine’s disinfo center, now deputy director at NABU. That’s the same anti-corruption bureau Zelensky’s party tried to gut… before mass protests forced a reversal. Lysenko hasn’t officially taken leave yet.
aug 19, 2025, 7:56 pm • 5 0 • view
7/ For now, Zaluzhny’s campaign is staying technically unofficial. No launch video. No rallies. Just “PR by other means.” That includes a veterans’ forum in London next month, backed by the powerful Serhiy Pashynskyi.
aug 19, 2025, 7:56 pm • 6 0 • view
8/ Despite past denials, Zaluzhny now appears prepared for a serious presidential run – and polling shows he’s the clear frontrunner to challenge Zelensky. The timing may shift depending on how negotiations unfold. But the wheels are already turning. More soon.
aug 19, 2025, 7:57 pm • 7 0 • view
A sign of a healthy democracy is the presence of multiple qualified candidates. I cannot remember the last time I voted in an American election where I had difficulty in choosing one from several great candidates. Here it is usually “lesser of two evils.”
aug 19, 2025, 8:19 pm • 3 0 • view
When there's martial law? Sorry, and no offence, but this sounds like propaganda to me. This is covered by EADaily, a known ruSSian media outlet. 👇👇👇
aug 19, 2025, 8:14 pm • 4 0 • view
I included the author of this info in the first post. She is a correspondent for the Kyiv Post.
aug 19, 2025, 10:10 pm • 0 0 • view
I would be wary. That's all I'm saying. If a ruSSian outlet is spreading it, I would myself, find it very dubious. Also the Kyiv post has, in the past, been a bit suspect at times. I'll take it with a very large pinch of salt.
aug 19, 2025, 10:16 pm • 1 0 • view
She is a credited journalist. That a Russian outlet wants to carry it is likely due to the current situation. That has nothing to do with the credibility. I 100% promise you she is vetted, credible, and does not have any relatuons to any Russian media. @sassovivente.bsky.social
aug 19, 2025, 11:18 pm • 0 0 • view
🤷♂️
aug 20, 2025, 2:48 pm • 1 0 • view
I just find it immediately raised suspicion on my part, but I'll wait for confirmation from more than this source. I'm also pretty sure Zelensky said he wouldn't run again, so I can't see why it would be said that Zaluzhny is going to run against him. I'll say no more.
aug 19, 2025, 11:26 pm • 1 0 • view
👇👇👇
aug 19, 2025, 8:14 pm • 1 0 • view
He also was a couple of years ago, as I recall. But then, Ukraine is a democracy, not a monarchy, not a dictatorship.
aug 19, 2025, 8:37 pm • 1 0 • view
Good if true. We desperately need a change of leadership of our country to put real patriots back in charge.
aug 19, 2025, 8:10 pm • 1 0 • view
aug 19, 2025, 9:16 pm • 0 0 • view
Once the war is over, I would imagine that Zelensky might not even stand. He has been through more than any other democratic leader in many a year. Whether a former General will be the best candidate, I don't know. But the Ukrainian people will decide.
aug 20, 2025, 6:44 am • 0 0 • view