Putin Dismisses Commanders After Stalemate in Donbas
The Russian president reshuffles the Supreme Military Command amid a slowed offensive, with some officials estimating the battle for Donbas could last until 2027.
The Russian president reshuffles the Supreme Military Command amid a slowed offensive, with some officials estimating the battle for Donbas could last until 2027.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has carried out a new round of dismissals at the top of the military, reshuffling commanders of forces in Ukraine after the offensive in Donbas failed to achieve its planned objectives. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the appointment of Army General Denis Liamin as head of a brand new military branch dedicated to unmanned aerial vehicles was announced, signaling the growing importance of drones in the conflict.
As reported by The Moscow Times, the previous commander of the Eastern Grouping, Andrei Ivanayev, has been transferred to lead the Center Grouping in the Donetsk region. In his place, Pyotr Bolgayev has been appointed. A significant move is also the removal of Valery Solodchuk from a combat command position. Solodchuk, who is accused of involvement in the Bucha massacre, has been transferred to head the logistics service of the Ministry of Defense.
The reorganization comes at a time when the Russian offensive has significantly slowed down. According to a Reuters report, the Russian General Staff has repeatedly postponed timelines for capturing key cities such as Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk. Pessimism has also crept in among some military officials; Bloomberg reports that some of them now believe the battle for Donbas could last until 2027.
Despite the stalemate, Putin continues to reject peace negotiations without full control over the Donetsk region. The Financial Times notes that his ambitions could extend further, encompassing all territory east of the Dnipro River, including Kyiv and Odesa.
On the same day, Putin, during a meeting with senior Ministry of Defense officials broadcast on Russian television, announced the appointment of General Denis Liamin as head of the new military branch for drones. He described him as "one of the most qualified specialists" for commanding unmanned systems forces, as reported by Reuters.
Liamin, a graduate of the tank command school, previously served as chief of staff for the "Center" forces fighting in Ukraine. "He will assume his duties in the near future," Putin said. This move also mirrors Ukrainian practice, as Kyiv already has its own dedicated unmanned aerial vehicle unit.
