Zelenskyy's Rival, Ex-Army Chief Zaluzhnyi, Reveals Deep Rift to AP

• Former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now ambassador to Britain, is seen as President Zelenskyy's top political rival.
• Zaluzhnyi publicly revealed a deep rift with Zelenskyy to AP, stemming from tensions over defending Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion.
• He alleges a 2022 raid by Ukraine's intelligence service on his office was an act of intimidation, a claim Zelenskyy's office and SBU declined to comment on.
• Zaluzhnyi claims disagreements over military strategy, including the failed 2023 counteroffensive, led to his dismissal in February 2024.
• Polls show Zaluzhnyi slightly ahead of Zelenskyy in a hypothetical election, with his popularity fueled by battlefield successes and public desire for change.