Key facts
- Colonel Emil Ishkulov is reportedly slated to command the 11th Army Corps, responsible for defending Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
- Ishkulov previously led the 80th Air Assault Brigade and reportedly opposed an order to enter Russia.
- The appointment is not yet officially announced, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
- Brigadier General Oleksii Maistrenko is expected to be replaced due to his management approach.
- The move is seen as an effort by Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi to bolster operational command.
Colonel Emil Ishkulov, formerly in command of Ukraine's 80th Air Assault Brigade, is reportedly being appointed to lead the 11th Army Corps. This corps is tasked with defending the strategically important Sloviansk and Kramatorsk sectors in Donetsk Oblast. The appointment, reported by Ukrainska Pravda citing unnamed defense sources, has not yet been officially confirmed.
Ishkulov currently serves as deputy commander of the 7th Rapid Response Corps. He is expected to succeed Brigadier General Oleksii Maistrenko, who has led the 11th Army Corps for approximately six months. Sources within the 11th Corps indicated that Maistrenko's management style was not aligned with current operational demands.
The Sloviansk and Kramatorsk areas are crucial components of Ukraine's defensive network in Donetsk Oblast. A senior military source suggested Ishkulov's leadership would significantly bolster these defenses. If appointed, he would coordinate with the adjacent 3rd Army Corps, commanded by Andrii Biletskyi, which operates in surrounding regions.
Ishkulov's prior command of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade saw public opposition from officers to his removal in July 2024, following reports of him refusing an order that he deemed beyond the unit's capabilities. He had reportedly refused to lead the brigade into Russia ahead of the Kursk operation, creating friction with then-Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Soldiers who served under him have described him as a meticulous planner who prioritized troop safety.
This potential appointment is viewed as an initiative by the new Commander-in-Chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, to reinstate Ishkulov in a significant operational role. The reported change occurs as Drapatyi initiates a broader review of personnel management within Ukraine's military, announced by the General Staff on July 29, aimed at improving the distribution and management of military personnel.