In tears, on his knees, and showing a V sign: the most powerful photos of Valerii Zaluzhnyi that went viral

General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was dismissed from his post as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on February 8, has numerous photos. They often conveyed the pain of the entire nation. Less often they became memes and made people laugh. Sometimes even reminded Ukrainians of the past.

The "iron" general almost never refused to take a selfie. However, the genuine emotions of the military could usually be read on his face in the most vulnerable moments: when he was alone, during the funerals of heroes, etc. OBOZ.UA decided to show the most powerful photos of Valerii that were seen not only in Ukraine but also around the world.

In the summer of 2023, General Zaluzhnyi posed for a portrait in his office in the building of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kyiv. His penetrating gaze aroused a storm of emotions in the audience, and the picture was shared by many foreign media outlets without any unnecessary pathos.

One of the most tragic photos was taken at the funeral of the hero of Ukraine Dmytro Kotsiubailo, known by his call sign "Da Vinci". The general knelt down in front of the coffin and the relatives of the fallen soldier.

Another emotional shot of the former commander-in-chief appeared after his speech during a press conference in Kyiv. Although the "iron" general rarely showed his emotions, he never hid them either.

After he was dismissed from his post, a photo of Andrii Nesterenko, where the general looks up in the Verkhovna Rada, began to be actively circulated online. Viacheslav Chornovil once had a similar photo.

However, the general did not always look pensive and sad. His photos often inspired Ukrainians and gave them faith in victory. For example, a photo by Hanna Maliar, where he showed a V sign, which means, among other things, the word "Victory".

There were also days when the former head of the army unknowingly became a meme hero. For example, last June, he gave his subordinates a task to wear a patch in the form of a fantastic character, Grog.

The photo with the "heart" that the general addressed to the camera was taken back in 2021. However, it became known during the news of mobilization.

"The photo shows the commander-in-chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, when he was informed that the separatists' ammunition warehouse had exploded, and as a result, we have a bunch of dead Russians," the post read.

During the Independence Day celebrations on August 24, 2023, Zaluzhnyi showed his intention to defeat the occupiers with his whole appearance.

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