Putin Replaces Key Army Commanders As Donbas Offensive Stalls

The Kremlin's Donbas offensive has stalled to such an extreme extent that independent analysts state it is unrealistic to expect the Russians to take the Fortress Belt this year - and probably even next year - if the pace of advance remains measured in meters. 

The reshuffle of officers is akin to throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. None of the new commanders appear to have achieved that much more than those they are replacing, leading to the supposition that the Kremlin is desperate and simply moving people around because it is out of ideas, equipment, personnel and any real strategy. JL

The Kyiv Post reports:

Putin reshuffled commanders overseeing key sectors of the war in Ukraine as Moscow (suffers) a sharp slowdown in its territorial gains. The command changes were part of a broader military reshuffle which Putin presented the changes intended to strengthen important areas of Russia’s military. The reshuffle comes as Russia’s ground advance in Ukraine has slowed considerably. Russia’s goal of occupying all of the Donetsk region in 2026 is considered unrealistic at the current rate of advance. Moscow would also be unlikely to achieve that objective in 2027 if the pace remained unchanged. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin reshuffled commanders overseeing key sectors of the war in Ukraine as Moscow seeks to capture the rest of the Donbas despite a sharp slowdown in its territorial gains.

According to the Moscow Times, Putin appointed Andrei Ivanayev to lead Russia’s Center group of forces, replacing Valery Solodchuk. The formation operates in central and northwestern parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk region and is responsible for some of Russia’s most important offensive operations.

“The Center group is one of our leading formations,” Putin said during a meeting with Russia’s defense ministry leadership. He added that choosing its commander was “not a simple question” because of the tasks assigned to the group. 

Ivanayev previously commanded Russia’s East group of forces, which operates around the border between Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. 

Pyotr Bolgayev, previously the East group’s chief of staff, was appointed its new commander.

Solodchuk was transferred to lead a consolidated logistics service within the Russian defense ministry, removing him from direct command of forces fighting in Ukraine.

Ukraine has accused Solodchuk of responsibility for the actions of Russian troops during the 2022 occupation of Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were killed. However, Russia has denied responsibility for the killings despite evidence documented by international investigators and news organizations. 

The command changes were part of a broader military reshuffle that also included the appointment of Denis Lyamin as head of Russia’s newly created Unmanned Systems Forces (USF). Lyamin previously served as chief of staff of the Center group.

Putin presented the changes as appointments intended to strengthen important areas of Russia’s military.

The reshuffle, however, comes as Russia’s ground advance in Ukraine has slowed considerably.

Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState said Russia’s goal of occupying all of the Donetsk region in 2026 was unrealistic at the current rate of advance. It added that Moscow would also be unlikely to achieve that objective in 2027 if the pace remained unchanged. 

Russia has concentrated significant forces on an attempt to seize the remainder of the Donbas, particularly Ukraine’s fortified line of cities comprising Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk.

The cities form the backbone of Ukraine’s defenses in the part of the Donetsk region that remains under Kyiv’s control. Capturing them would require Russian troops to break through heavily fortified positions and fight across a large urban area.

Russia controls most, but not all, of the Donbas territory. Nevertheless, Moscow claims the entire Donetsk region as Russian territory despite failing to occupy it fully.