For two years, AP’s Kyiv team pursued an interview with Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces who is widely viewed as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s most significant political rival. After his dismissal and appointment as ambassador to the United Kingdom, his aides repeatedly declined requests.
Samya Kullab renewed the effort after Zaluzhnyi hired a new adviser, and months of persistent source work led to a breakthrough. Though he declined a traditional sit-down interview, Zaluzhnyi agreed to a detailed profile based on extended conversations, with quotes approved afterward.
Kullab and Susie Blann prepared extensively, finalized questions, arranged a translator and traveled to London. At a time when U.S. officials were pressing Ukraine to consider holding elections — and speculation about Zaluzhnyi’s political ambitions was intensifying — the access was significant. He had never publicly addressed the possibility of challenging Zelenskyy.
Across two lengthy sessions totaling more than three hours, Zaluzhnyi opened up about his strained relationship with Zelenskyy, disagreements over battlefield strategy and setbacks, and a 2022 security service raid on his office. The result was an exclusive and nuanced portrait of a pivotal figure in Ukraine’s wartime leadership.
Judges praised the persistence, diplomacy and reporting depth that led to rare access and a consequential interview.
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